LIBR ARY OF CONG RESS, 

Chap.Y.5. „ Copyright No. 

I V) Q 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



Areal's Imagination 



...BY.. 



Silence. 




piXl 



By The J. Henry Porter Co. 
Boston, Mass. 



10895 



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Copyrighted April 17, 1900 
By The J. Henry Porter Co. 



AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 



Represented. 

Conrad Almont. 

John Almont, son of Conrad, friend of Garrett. 

Charles Almont, son of Conrad, friend of Ver- 

ness. 
Verness, a gentleman. 
Roya'l Carroll, a gentleman. 
Anthony, cousin of Carroll. 
Edward Garrett. 
Olt, Xen, robbers, friars, servants, etc. 
Marion Almont, daughter of Royal, 
Mary Carroll, sister of Royal. 
Agnes Nance. 
Hostesses, etc. 



ACT I. ' 

Scene I. Before a cottage, Garrett ahorse, 
Cottager and Boy. 

Gar. What said I my name? Pretty blushet. 
Dreaming dolt have you so soon forgot? 
Boy. Good. 
Gar. Bright light of wit — champion of intellect ! 



4 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

Dost know thou ? Hum ! look a blaze of ignorance. 

[To Cottager. 
Here a thread portends — a spanking colt 
When curried out. Sir, guard him as you can. 
Lavish not too much on finer niceties ; 
Expound, deliver with impressiveness his nobleness ; 
To become man and master of propensities ; 
Virtue-proof against the proverbs of indulgence. 
Show through the hall of truth, the devil's exit ; 
For truth, old man, in youth is perfection. 
No coward, nor alloyed with deception, 
Mighty honor sword up in impeachment. 
This open time's receptacle of much it is to be. 

Cot. Efforts best shall be my pleasure. 

Gar. Greatest greatness is born in lowness. 
Mind, boy ; poverty routs petulance, 
And tribulations whet the ends 
Of extrication. — There are horse in my rear. 
Quick, curl you in your chrysalis 
And sleep. I'll tax each act. — Sleep ! [Exit. 

Cot. The outlaw of — come, come to sleep. 

[Exeunt Cottager, Boy. 

Enter Pursuit and Exeunt. 

Scene II. Nance's; Agnes writing. 

Enter Garrett. 
Gar. Thou of many metaphor, thou of little 

simile — 
Agnes. He's outlaw I am warned. I am warned. 
I dread my love, and drunk in it. [Aside. 



ACT I. SCENE II. J 

Gar. In ripples is bland flowing life. 

Agnes. A breathing presence insouls its lazy 
current. 

Gar. Things falling 'twixt the sun in their 
shadow 
Are first seen. What fear reflected here? 

Agnes. Ah, 'tis a stately tree in vanity 
Leaning o'er the mere. 

Gar. Spreads thy face's fire. 

Far thy temples 'twill set thy hair 
Afire. — I read it now ; suspects me truly. 
Beholds she loves that black thief, 
In public terror's painting, mounted nondescript. 
The roads are choking, hounds are baying. 

[Aside. In the distance hounds are heard. 

Agnes. Sir, why so dreamingly? Hast tumbled 
in 
Soft sleep's oblivion ? 

Gar. Oh, yes, musing on a joke. 

'Twas o'er the road. — Undone in that killing. 

[Aside. Dogs are heard again. 

Agnes. Then to all false angles, and more a seat 
uneasy. 

Gar. Instead of cheer the alchemist spilt 
In me a double dose severe ; formation 
From waste scraps of truculence sorted out 
My face. So, Agnes, the danger in a smile 
Is that I rip the patcher's lace. 
I came to no more than say, I go. 

Agnes. To strip a couplet of its fairest rhyme ? 

Gar. Time points his commanding digit 



6 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

To the door. — The wolves are yet outwit. [Aside. 

[Picks up writing. 
What's the matter on this paper? 

Agnes. Pray do not read ! 

Gar. 'Tis not unfit, and so, not I for it unfit. 

[Reads. 
Thought draws to thee, sits at its feast ; 
And leap in presence breasting the aurora. 
The sluggard is creation' s sin— thee creation's 

king^ 
Apparelled in the poetry of nature' s garnered 
rhymes. 

Impossible is fossil, of prowess you the euphony, 
Roaming glory free, men as timid shadows — 
Voids about a burrow creep to their retreat : 
Moon of houses of ideal, lord of every mansion. 

Man, sublimity inthroned in immortality ; 
Action gowned of awe and wonderment. 
Nature' s grand imposing, nature' s dainty artist : 
Thy form the fading of all amaranth. 

Balance not a bird on any desperate lie. 
To whom ? To whom ? 

Agnes. To thee but ne'er to see. 

Gar. I love thee intensely. But I must go. 
Agnes. 'Tis a sad tale. 

Gar. The dogs on guard ; 'tis death delay. 

[Aside. 
Agnes. Stay ; come we'll ope the flood of har- 
mony 



ACT I. SCENE II. 7 

Borne on debacle of chords ; come, we'll make 

Dead silence dance and fill a heavenness 

In the air ; come, music's key admits 

To court of ecstasy ; come attendants be 

In sumptuous sympathy. Trim necessity, 

And together travel the jeweled heights 

To Jove. Or while dost sing shall I play. 

Gar. Is sentiment security? I must depart. — 
If speed's to win I should be gone e'er now. [Aside. 

Agnes. Art in danger? 

Gar. Danger? I saw no one enter. 

Agnes. But to-night less firm, furtive for assault. 

Gar. I should gone e'er this ; pardon my trans- 
gression. [Dogs in the distance. 

Agnes. O sweet transgression ! in my heart 
Most pardonable. Fy ! Love levels insolent laws. 
Six may swing upon the gate when sixty 
Were deranged. Love alone may break these laws 
Of porcelain when custom common 
Makes it wanton. 

Gar. I beg a thing of you. 

Agnes. I wish 'twere less you begged and more 
You asked, for grants grieve to see thee 
Begging and make a pleasure weep. 

Gar. A kiss. 

Agnes. A kiss? A sip of bliss; 'tis thine. 

[Kiss. Exit Gar. 
Good-night my love ; dream o'er this dream to- 
night. — 
Quick upon the lips, a report within the soul. 
The lips cushioned for its guest: — 



8 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

King expectant — tender throne of sweet 

Ravishment. — Adieu ; and may sleep 

Bedew thee thou vading rose intrepid. — 

A spirit started from the pout 

In frighted flight a dart unto divine ! 

That touch ! that yielding pressure ! 

Torrent of intoxicant, subtile wine of slavery. 

My lord, love ; how blithe thou makes t me ! \_Exit* 



Scene III. Room in Carroll's. Mary Carroll 
and John Almont. 

John. Farewell till then. How long till then ! 

Mary. Farewell. My wish so short I will not. 

John. How hard to say ! 

Mary. 'Tis not forever. 

John. Farewell. 

Mary. Farewell. \_Exit John. 

Pledged to him and promised to his brother. 
But, what is a promise but a breath 
Sealed in mortal's less assurance, — 
Her wind shaped to some well meant intent. 
More, 'tis effect of antidote exaction. 
A naked thought unwintered in to come, — 
Determination rich courting treacherous 
Chance. The shall is sighing strength ; 
The infant wants a dangerous toy. 
A promise is a bubble on the providential — 
A feather in fate's weather. We speculate, 
But as future elicits must guide 
To further pike. My yea implied ability bereft. 



ACT I. SCENE IV. 9 

Charles, I fling your ring into the burning. 

[ Throws it into thejire. 
The remnant of remembrance pity for thee. 

Enter Royal Carroll. 

But none are thee look and bone of noble ; [ To Roy. 
Fair to view within a falling water-fall. 

Roy. The hunt collected ; will you start? 

Mary. In spirits tumbling up, and my heart 
Is soaring. Like winged Fortune lead them. 

[Exeunt. 

Scene IV. An Inn. Charles Almont reading 
letters of business. 

Chas. How soft disorders steal the throne 
Intentions like the velvet tread of night. 
If courage is a sect of science, 
And sweat the bread of genius, 
My fortune t*isks, my brain in scheming council 
Till thou dost strut in servitude. 
He says, I hold all moneys, I am master. 

[Reads. 
Master ? He ? Ridiculous ! The party and the 

power 
What mad opposites in all particularities 
That pair. I can afford the toll, to time. 

Enter Servant with another letter ; exit. 

Ho ! a letter. It smells of love. Within 

Too I wager in sweets' erotic savor. 

Deferential sure. Obedience shines [Opens. 



IO AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

As in that time bends she her mind to mine. 

Mine eyes ! No, no, no ! Cohorts of fire 

Could not change her so ! Light inverteth, 

Sight inebriate. Read o'er again the facts ! 

Tour life and mine must never blend. 

Defeat. Shocked my rock of prospect ! 

Too warm of bosom to bleed your brother 's faith 

In tale 9 s recital. — The same ! same antagonist. 

Again, Tell him not that Tve loved thee. 

Keep it in thy sorrow' s secret heart. 

For then — no more. Dear friend am I Mary 

Carroll. 
Is her money, her manner, and her beauty — 
Money (else is tail) gone to my brother, 
Born to hate, life to despise and fight, 
Whom in his cradle pommeled, saucy brat, 
Enmity's intensity freak of unity, 
To win the fortune of my plotting? No. 
I'll wed thee at the altar as I there thee 
Have led ! Conjured is pity poniard, tipped 

\_A tear falls. 
In deadly tear. I'll powder this god 
Of your adoration ; I'll efface his face 
And charge again the gates, 
And were immured in steel 
My thymy pleadings' pressure percolate. — 
This night I'll slip him in his sleep. 
The hushed hour muffle him, the angel 
To ensnare him in eternity. Dream thou 
Deeper in the fathoms of unconsciousness. 
John in sleep art gone I'll bolt the door 



ACT I. SCENE IV. 1 1 

From thy return. Mary Carroll reigneth, remain- 

eth, mine ! 

Enter John. 

John. Disappoint, deject thou seem'st and sad. 
Dost peruse thy life of wrongs for mammon ? 

Chas. Paddling in the past ; wooing when 
We were more of friends. 

John. Humph ! you were. 

Chas. I thought of time and we were boys 
Blown in pride and love afore stole 
This nipping, bickering blight. When 
Vain heaven in ceaseless tissues clad ; 
The earth elastic to our tripping spirits ; 
The air was rare in brotherhood ; 
Buoyant, bounding in unbounded freedom. 
Then, quicker than a woman's wit 
Changed the smiling scene to snarling sullen. 

John. The well of your imagination must be foul 
In dead cats of most pervert. 

Chas. I step forward to renew — 

[Steps forward to clasp. 

John. Is love 

Thus impulsive? There's no good in thine eye. 
Suave extorter what of me is it envy'th ? 
Twinkling scoundrel a fico for your love. [Exit. 

Chas. Soon that stiff tongue in a stiffer sticks ; 
And vSatan stirs sensation in the mix. 
Where the grains of penetration 
Are magnified to suffer ; fires the choicest 
Prompt to twist in excruciation's tangle ; 
Groans trample pomp, souse in pool convulsions. 



12 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

Pain sweep thy domain of excellence ; 
Collect eccentrics torture, and if aught 
Beyond my thought within the walls 
Of agony, prepare : I speed him shrouded 
In the night. — Stuff ! I should be tried for it. 
Lo, 'tis so. Wisdom have your inning. 
When murder haps his nearest and his dearest 
First suspected. Direct am I the mark 
And accurate arrows of his popularity. — 
Ah, for one to blood devout, had taste of this. 
Who'd do the deed for money, suspicions could not 
find. 

Enter Garrett. 

I possess his past. He is my resurrection. [Aside. 
Gar. What ails? Woman's treachery? man's 
perfidy ? 

Or is it as methinks thine are golden troubles ? 

Beware, in region paved with diamonds 

Are a host of counting damned. 

Boy, ambitions bred in pockets are things 

Loathsome making plagues 'mong men. 

Boy, put thy mountain at the bottom ; 

Nor try to top a thread with a mountainous 

Head. 

Chas. In tender tumult, vexed, perplexed. — 
Gar. Oho, art charmed by the art of some 

Young rustling widow's tricksey petticoat ; 

Fascinated by dame's lavishness to shape : 

And passions like the setting sun 

Present the sluggish beauty's frieze ; 

Whiles the friar winks, lo, the crimson mist 

Is gone. 



ACT I. SCENE IV. IJ 

Chas. I love, I lose. 

Gar. Love's loss is sad loss. 

But hope is yet. While there's hop there's hope. 

Chas. Hope ? Hope ? Yes, holds a stench 
Unto the nose and tickles the nape 
With emblem flower ; with sulphur stuffs 
The stomach, puts sweet fragrance in the hair. 
I say, will you lock this secret I now say ? 

Gar. Love. — Jealous. Corollary of too long 
wooing. 
Perchance, existence ; a rival. Perchance. 
Two jealous cats around an offal barrel. 

Chas. Pity me ! all devices dead in me ! 

[Droops. 

Gar. Effeminate ; woman intended in the 
match. 

Chas. But a draught of your grand acumen ; 
Environ with your rescuing counsel. 
She doth recant and to my brother goes ; 
She's a mine — rich — riches — fabulous. 

Gar. His wretched sprawl some antic to deceive 
me. 
Thief, her home and not her heart he'd own. 

[Aside. 

Chas. My heart is rent. 

Gar. Mend it. 

Chas. How? 

Gar. Mend imagination. Thou rolleth love 
Up a hill. Like a hog made your golden 
Palate god grunting under much 
Thy groans are more. 



14 AEEAL'S IMAGINATION. 

Ckas. My brother he — 

Gar. Men fling sparrows crumbs to hear them 
sing ; 
To nuptial they thee invite to see thee grin. 
I must go. [ Going. 

Ckas. Hold ! Haste not yet ! 
Despair depleting me, in issue strength. [Droops. 
Pulp as jelly-fish. 

Gar. Loose indeed who lose in loss. 
Wailing licks lean sleek sides of life. Omit 
To think of it and in bus'ness beat your brother. 

Ckas. Dost not believe I love ? 

Gar. As fain 

Would he be cunning who slobbers over 
Craft, so oft is too much diligence thief 
Of the mask. 

Ckas. I meet thee on the guileless level. 

Gar. Thou art gymnastic hypocrite. 

Ckas. My brother tells, — O so abhorrent to the 
ear, — 
Tales, that one must strike his breast, exclaim ; — 
Of thee, with more blood than eloquence, 
Less love than either, till they, I say, 
Are murderously plain and murder 
Is their key, — thou wert freebooter butchering : 
Thy past was robber pillaging, killing men. 
Silence him or John doth hang thee with his tongue. 
Draw a dagger for salvation's sake ; 
Whip and whittle quickly happy fortune. 
An instant's jab of thy rapier, my gold 
The gain to wipe away the stain. 



ACT I. SCENE IV. 15 

Thou art gentleman in need I know. 

He calls thee friend but he's thy foe. 

t say, put a dagger in thy danger 

For he is malice worse than wrath ; 

He squints, he's tricky and he's sweet ; 

Proclaims thee outlaw and outlawry is death. 

She is rich admit, hers I seek admit ; 

Love her wealth more than self ; 

But if thou my brother'll kill due part I'll pay, — 

Mistake ! O soft the fiery fiend till I am out ! 

[Aside. 
Gar. Is Garrett sought dark arch to dastardy? 
The hushed hope, silent gate to depths' descent? 
Crime's vicegerent ? black Depravity's villain ? 
No, I must stay the hand. Wriggle viper ! 
Fly ! for blood is surging to avengement ! 

[Exit Chas. 
Garrett move again. Roam where wilt 
The devil of my past seems informer. 
But happy yet and blest not my origin 
Addressed — the ungracious crime that bore me. 
His and not his brother's is the idle tongue 
Plays suitor to my evil record. 
O the family ! The father and his favorite 
'Gainst the mother and her son. Such hate ! 
Pernicious, unnatural and unrootable. 
Edward Garrett, wherever got the name, 
Possessed thou but maternity — well — well — 'tis my 

hobby ; 
And grace is guest where least received. — 
He lives and gone to work his way. 



1 6 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

But for thee, Agnes, Charles were dead and done of 

earth. 
'Twas thee, dear, in vision kept in peace. 
In temptation celestial lily in the path ; 
Or in rage floating fore forgetting fury. 
What conquering witchery is in a woman ! 
Steal a tempest and hide it so completely ; 
Can enchant the passion, still destruction's sea. 
Persuasive, and in sweet power replete ; 
Within whose dependency the subjects 
To inthrall strong, stupid, musing man. 
Aye, wise was the wisdom and not stint 
Of matter said thy sacred seed was small. 
Good-night, my darling, good-night. [ Going. 

My wrong must stand but thee I never wed, 
Lest learn, or guess, hold hidden intercourse, 
As quiz my maund'ring dreams that I'm not holy born. 

[Exit. 
Re-enter Charles. 

Chas. On the hill miserable in his hut 
The hermit kill ; John's crime prove it to my father. 
If banish not the statutes do behead. 
And then to Mary Carroll shall I prove it. 
Our love and reconcilement suckling on the udder 
My brother's villainy. I taste success. 

Re-enter Garrett unnoticed. 

Straight to hermit. [Exit. 

Gar. I'll walk round see the hermit. 

There's mischief in his mind, mischief in his mission. 
I'll myself walk round and see the hermit. [Exit. 



ACT I. SCENE V. 1^ 

Scene V. Room in Almonf s. 

Enter Conrad to seat. 

Con. Ow ! that leg. Pangs and spleeny pain. 
Ugh ! Each move roots a groan each muscle — 
Oh ! why am I drawn to suffer so ? 
Brain in drugs' periphery, in pericarp 
Of care ; charged with cure, physic plenty 
To purge Satan, and still rheumatics 
Mock the doctor's acids rapidly deleting me. 
Time eats all sides, trouble through the middle. 
My day rolls on. Hydrangea in the winter 
I soon shall leave my slender stem 
And blow and roll away. 

Enter Charles. 

Chas. Fondest father — 

Con. 'Morning son, achievement of my years. 

Chas. 'Feels my father ? 

Con. Dressed for death, summed up for de- 

struction . 
By my love, some evil ails ! Say my son. 
Our wealth fell from hazard ? hast blast 
With risk ? Scattered is my life ! 

Chas. Father I falter. 

Con. Have I taught thee 

Where to feed in famine starved now 
In prosperity? Age in shameful poverty? 

Chas. Not fortune lost but in the coil's disgrace. 
'Tis bad for me and sad for me but worse 
For thee. 



1 8 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

Con. Praised ! [Aside. 

Chas. Thy son, thy son ; my dear beloved 

brother. 

Con. Disgrace? 

Chas. And knits the very face 

Of heaven in abhorrence, makes molten 
Hell run o'er in glee. I revolt at broaching. 

Con. Our name a light in honor beamy, — 

Chas. 'Tis part spoils. But I must guard ! 

Con. I bid speak ! 

Chas. I fear thy weakness. 

Can courage cut the cancer from our side — ? 
Thou art sickly and not staunch to't. 

Con. A boy I fought a tiger. When right 
Stands to be wrought, my deed defies, 
Thy father does defying ! 

Chas. O, father sweet, 

Thou hast command me and I speak. 
I would my tongue might hire my will, 
My mouth could fly ; or in my mouth 
Each sense to grind that here can signify : 
To your guidance my fealty were dead. 
O poor hero triumphant o'er your love ! 
Pray, must I breathe in banishment? 
Must I lop the silent felon and stamp him 
In his crime ? Distress me not with his deserts ! 

Con. Son, face thy father, see into his eyes, 
Speak unto my hearing ; let thy lips work loose^ 
From round thy heart come its concealings. 
Speak as by thy brother's bier and thou wert 
Compelled to speak ; speak as thou wert 



ACT I. SCENE V. 1^ 

Judge before his soul and could not utter 
Falsely : of all thou knowest of any act 
Or rank intentions his, that bear the blush 
Completion or in part erected, 'gainst God ; 
Serious and substantiated 'gainst the state. 

C/ias. Father most wise my brother he, I love ; 
I love though loathe he you, mother's dotage. 
Proximity exasperates the yearning ; 
He must be filed in the unknown, 
Or our simple feelings feed of fire. 
I invoke your heights of lustrous leniency, 
And not in vain your clemency with eagle's wing 
To hie along the transverse of his ill-deserving. 
Pray imprison nor behead him here ; 
Banishment enough. — Put on thy sterner habit. 
Loving father I shall not stand accusant. 

Con. Wherefore shalt not? 

C/ias. I fear my weakness. 

Con. I tell thee, to the marrow of the # matter ! 

Chas. Softly; John your son, a murderer. 

Con. Consuming violence ! O word of agony ! 
This falling form in the storm of scorn. 
Age, how thou collect'st misery in thy shank ! 
Defied, despised, scorned in his youth 
Annuled my counsels now manhood run aground. 
Ah, has seldom reason power to rescue 
Youth in mistuition schooled. Murderer. 
What's our disgrace ? 

Chas. The hermit killed took his famous 

jewels. 

Con. May not fatality be building of thy 
Fallibility? 



20 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

Chas. Down his hoary channeled chest, 
Strange on its unwonted ground, 
Trickled the disappointed stream of life. 
I pulled it out from where 'twas plunged, 
This hunting-knife thy gift upon a time. 

[Displays a knife. 
It wears corrosive scurf of his depreciation ; 
But these mute marks are not the gore of doe. 
Home I shadowed him, after to his room ; 
Through a crevice peeped. My eyeballs stuck ! 
It sucks my strength relate : hid them in his clothes. 
Con. Hither bring him in my presence. 
Chas. Keep close from notice till he denies. 

[ Gives the knife. 
I will not call. 'Twould seem result's exulting 
In enormity's fall. I'll be by when you arraign. 
Curb acerbity and remember, banishment. 

[Exit. 
Enter Marion. 

Con. Find out John ; summon him before me. 

[Exit Mar. 
Some crimes aweep pawn pearls 
In propitiation, but this dread congress sin 
In its edificial treachery is mined about 
For pity. Praised be ye guardian gods 
Of disasters not me or mine he stole upon ! 

Enter John. 

How hang the folds of thy demeanor ! 
Innocence o'er thine aspect waves so redolent. 
Siree, I am about to charge thee with a crime. 



ACT I. SCENE V. 21 

John. The monarch abdicates, and dome of man 
Crashes in a chaos. 'Tis sad when this intellect 
Topples in the river of such ravings. 
Re-enter Marion. 
Con % Where wert riding darkness' hour of evil? 

John. Base curiosity what baser service cloy it? 
Con. In the mouth of culprits little eloquence. 

John. Hate loves to toy with this thing 
In his throat, soon ascending wreath 
Of suspicion's smoke. 

Con. This loon 

More voluble soon. 

Mar. Prithee, let lenity 

Deploy more gracious ardor ; spite eat not 
A parent's proper premise. [To Con. 

Con. Circumstances fit thee ; 

Besides thou wert seen in it. Dost wear jewels ? 
Like a sphere trembling on a tremulous plane, 
He stands unsteady on his stand. 
On the hill the hermit murder'd. Deny thou ? 

Mar. Should my brother so befoul his breath? 
Fastidious tooth thou tak'st my heart ! [Aside. 

Con. Son, list to the suffering lips of edict. 
Stern perforce, believe me I am weeping. 
I have prayed the lofty hosts of this 
Mine thine despised nature as they 
In council o'er thy crime were met, 
And verdict thus in mitigative moment. 
Who sows contracted stealth may he reap 
Astringent consequence, ran my answer. 
To speak't 'tis tears sopping my shorn years. 



22 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

Go, nor enter in thy life the portals 

Of a thousand miles. Go, or axed to-morrow. 

Mar. Thy accusation thin, senile, base and bias. 
'Tis illusion's impress. Hast not fetched proof. 

Con. They are on his person or grind my knees 
Till pardon's dust. 

Mar. Each word girdled certainty. [Aside. 

Then a monster milks the truth 
And poisons with immensity. 

Re-enter Charles. 
Chas. Trouble ? Trouble ? 

Mar. Oh, mother, if but thou wert here to 
interpose ! [Aside. 

In a noisome cloud he would confound, 
Drive afar forever our love and brother. [To Chas. 
Con. I am thy father. 
John. I thy hated son ; 

Now foul, baseless passion vomit judgment. 
Con. Be not submit to search thou goest. 
Mar. I'll pry each pucker, pick each plait — 
Con. 'Tis not his play comply. [John shifts. 

John. Search Marion. 

Mar. Not there — not there — not there — 
Con. What if hast erred? 

[Aside to Chas. 
[Marion finds, fumbles and jewels fall. 
Huzza ! honor's shouter captive. 
John. Did put them there? [7!? Chas. 

Con. And that telleth tale of how. 

[Throws knife on floor. 
John. The bound and bitten victim of cabal. 



ACT I. SCENE V. 23 

Time soon shall whisk me out of thought. [ To Mar. 
Meanwhile immunity from misery 
Is bare benefit, and privilege of none. 
A kiss, and give it to my mother. [Kisses. Going-. 
Mar. Life of my love, stay I pray ! 

\_Prostrates before her father . 
The gray ugsome bugs and worms 
That fat neath damp decaying log 
Are fear in fear of size and man's might. 
Man front infinite and valorous, 
Oh — ah — eh — shall he scurry fore the worm ? 
Or shall he crawl and prejudice be grand ? 
See, on my knees I plead as at 
The chancel rail of Favors ; my prayer 
I place diamond in salvation ; 
O father, see it ! Ope love or ope dungeon. 
Make silence, this hush of hollow bidding 
Beautiful — spray in fragrant speech. 
See Marion in tresses of your praises ; 
Eye of brown tone nigh your own ; 
There, look the mirrored flexless face 
That crushes in distracted crouch. 
Waiting — waiting — is't caress or scowl perverse ? 
The richest, rarest, warmest tunic 
Is forbearance ; the very crumbs 
That give a grace to majesty wet 
Of these assuaging oils. Pardon him. 
And zephyrs comb the lion's mane, whispers 
Striate the eagle ; the grasses sway, 
The oak bends to the wind ; nature 
Weak and mighty bows before benign : 



24 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

Canst not the gentle breath of Marion's agony? 
Granite to endure in sufferance the umber time's, 
Mortal wilt not mantle in love's desperation? 
Mountains massive and abrupt, piles 
Teeming angles sightly, grotesque in liberty, 
Canst not thou be grotesque in love ? 
In melting treaty ascend not scorn, 
With a blaze blot out life, quiet gleaming : — 
That dear is he t > me that if he goes I die. 

Chas. Advance the crucial step. [Aside to Con. 

Con. 'Tis too late. 

John. My stay but galls thy anguish, sister. 
Say to mother I am innocent. Exiled ! [Exit. 

Enter Garrett. 

Gar. What means this face in this sour mash? 

Mar. See upon the floor — 

Gar. Tell me aside. 

[Aside. Converse apart. 
Con. He denied. 

Chas. A pleading and denying world. 

The towns-folk are in arms. [A noise without. 

Con. Suspect they John ? 

Chas. Seems. 

Con. Admit them in. [Chas. Going. 

Gar. Stay. 

Chas. Guests of my attraction. 

[Aside. 

Gar. Age in stormy locks and bushy tragus, 

[ To Con. 
Massy brows and rheumy brills, plunge 

In supplication for this act of tears and thorns. 
Burst in several of the towns-people. 



ACT I. SCENE V. 25 

Be still gentlemen. 

1st. T. John Almont — 

Gar. Be still. 

Thy brother John is innocent. I'll confess to it. 
I am innocent. Thy brother Charles the guilty. 

[Aside to Mar. 
This din is thy sin. I heard thee say thou'd go ; 
On call mine own find dead, 
Thy cloak and gory glove. Thy sister saveth. 

\_Aside to Chas. 
As time dipped it in the dawning [ To Ts. 

And life 'gan to scroll the day, 
My eyes flew ope to lung of revenge. 
A petty grievance. Hath marked the time? 
On the morn of yesterday. Does any doubt it? 
I've said a petty grievance, but prodigious 
Is growth of working germ, soil and time. 
Black soil ye say for virgin growth ; 
Black souls I say — but yet, I'll let ye guess it. 
All day despite my will it tarried there, 
Despite commands and man, 
Till grievance grew my conqueror, 
Like a tragedy ramped and tore my hair, 
My teeth were clashing swords. 'Tis last night 
Mine eye doth drop upon a knife, borrowed, 
Resolved I'm to return it. Not to his palm 
But to John Almont's bosom's deeper keeping. 
I'm journeying on, 'tis midnight hush and awful, 
Lo, a thought speaks blackly to my heart. 
Up the hillock the miser's lodge I gain. 
The moon in eclipse beblood is aegis 



26 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

To my stealth ; buckled 'bout me darkness, 
Unexplored endowments crime exploring. 
Night's desolation convened in multitudinous 
Assemblement round Taurus slain ; 
Or like some god to worship ; from gloom to gloom 
The bolts of hidden huntress in the chase. 
What magnificence and I so shrunken ! 
The moon emerging and the world asleep ; 
Frowning her effulgence on Crime's form, 
Recoiling self and calling self a coward, — ■ 
I make a botch of it. I'll not meddle in't. [Aside. 
Girl I'll not confess to it. [ To Marion] Men 
'tis crime none o' mine. 

ist. T. If art not guilty John Almont we sus- 
pect. 

Gar. He's gone. 

1st. T. All pursue him ! All haste, pursuit ! 

Exeunt Ts. 

Gar. I go, too, Marion, for good, so attached to 
thee. [Exit. 

Chas. To the top o' the house and — 

Con. I'll not a jot. 

Chas. Wilt breakfast ? 

Con. Appetite? I have none. 

Pick up those stones. What would they bring? 

[Picks up jewels. 

Chas. Come out into the sunlight, there we'll tell. 

Con. Thy arm. 

Chas. Of his poor case how careful. 

That result be true as thou art worthy ! [Aside. 

Exeunt Conrad and Charles. Exit Marion. 



ACT II. SCENE I. 27 

ACT II. 

Scene I. A room in Carroll's. 
Enter Mary Carroll. 

Mary. In the baldric of betrothal unbright, un- 
blithe, 
For like black angel Charles thee appeareth 
In my dawn of bliss. Charles, why doth not reply? 
Is't from height of hope dropped in despair, 
Numb to reproach, opprobriate or answer? 
Again this morn is rippleless rest 
A storm emotion, dreams drunk in destruction ; 
And sorrow's stream harbor in my pillow. 
'Tis said perturbation wafts a warning, 
She soon imbrued of sorrow weighed. — 
But, that he were here of knightly look, 
This purling spirit limbed and strong, 
My John. Heaven keep me in the pomp of purity. 

Enter Charles feigning 7tot to see her. 

Chas. How ruthlessly she tampered with this 
Ingenuity of heav'n ; how malevolently 
Trod she the infinitesimals of divine structure. 
Lit the fires of love, man destroying, corpse 
Consuming, then flung upon the buffet 
Of the riderless, reinless, raging sea. 
Hopes in ruin, denied, tempest-tossed and rent. 
Took and then denied me. Ah me, poor wretch ! 
And there was an infant in my life. 



28 AREAI/S IMAGINATION. 

Ah, that I did die in my crib's innocence 
Before burst blue bands of understanding ; 
Or sense was saddled neath her excellence 
And urged to this dire anguish. — 
Crime's concomitant, to my brother gone 5 
Approval of his lust the nodding idol 
Deed's to it. 

Mary. Silence ! 

Ckas. My joy ! my joy ! 

Ah, yes, its path of death. My heart ! my heart ! 
Ah, yes, its grave, my soul its solitary. 
Lost love in labyrinth, bruised and broken 
In bewilderment, too great to retreat, 
Flounders forward stripped, graceless, giant. 

[Advances* 
Speak, O woman ! speak, Mary, mine ! 

Mary. Not thine ; 

I am of another ; promise soon possession 
Of your brother. I know I am flag 
To four forces of contumely, flouts ; 
I stand where conscience bids me ; 
I stood where convenience stood me. 
If transit through thy sorrow, 
One way without a sourceless circle, 
How preserve and persevere? My fault 
In thought ; I grieve it, yet am glad. 
A babe may lisp deprive reply, accuse 
Nor I excuse. Or may you have it be 
Love with him is selfish, life with thee 
Beyond my charity. 

Ckas. O, cold condolence 



ACT II. SCENE I 29 

To clothe my shivering hope ! — Thy faith [Aside. 
In him is not for faith ne'er found him. 

Mary. As swung on malice thy tongue 
It creaks unjust. 

Chas. He is tangled thoughts intrigue — 

Mary. Presume not on my ears. Thou art menial 
Unto jealousy. 'Tis ten of any sin to scandal 
Blood and brother. 

Chas. Brother ; that roundest concord 

E'er struck upon the mortal firmament ; 
Drinking in the giddy cups of music 
In my soul's still and dismal residence of sorrow. — 
Thou doth rope-dance unto his heart. 
Caution is the cause of sanctity. Below 
The victims gone before do writhe in ruin. 

Mary. Mute of mouth or turn it out ! 
Stay yet Charles ! I kneel for my asperity. 

[Kneeling. 

Chas. My mission out. Our rash fancies 
Are a handsome fool ; lash on admonition, 
Palm to peril, unhappy skein of contraries. 
Or as now the sun full looking in the muddy pool 
In blinding splendor and may betray the drinker ; — 
So he the waters poison. For life imbibe not. 
Woman this heart you have in hand 
Is much possessed. Interrupt me not. 
Is now betrothed to quite twice a score ; 
Thrice twice a score mad in perplexity, 
Peopling the pale of his passion. 

Mary. In foul gullet of your obloquious mouth 
Must I look warrant ? To me apparelled 



30 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

In less guile than seems thy tale of him. 
Leal lord of truth nor fustian fool, 
A rock of temperance. 

Chas. More casts than has the sky. 

Glig in the tavern he's dog dure at home. 
If maiden one he wooes shy and sheepish, 
His number two in boorishness he hurtles. 
Proteus-like his habit as declares finesse, 
Each twitch taut some intention. 
Ah, if could speak the cemeteries dotted 
In the precious gems of his perfidiousness. 
Would but walk upon a night for thy sight, 
The teary ghosts of his grave-yard host, 
The grass still young and thin bedewing. 
The ring of gold, the creep of pleasure, 
A surface fair, delight this man's. Beware. 

Mary, I have light to study him. All wavers 
Is not lost. Repulse we read is oft but van 
Of victory. My trust but lapseth to retrench. 
If my faith in John is now lopped a limb, 
I am sure investigation will strengthen in its trunk. 

Chas. Last night he murders, — ah, yes, mur- 
ders. 
Old age in its bed succumbs to him. 
How many more suspicions are not estimate. 
Father cried in accusation till was puddle 
On the floor. Then proof dropped in searching, 
The weapon and the prize, and sister plead 
For guilt. 

Mary. Step another word 'tis death ! 
Serpent ! thou tedder'd engine Satan's ! 



ACT II. SCENE I. JI 

May all deputies of agony crowd thy blood 

And cry your warning broad ! May that 

Body bloat in black stench all fall 

Who approach ! May you become hideous 

As your song affrighting dogs and virtue ! 

Tales hell-bearer unto my heart 

May that mouthed snake increase, coil round 

Your neck and squeeze, dangle in 

The leaping, lapping flames — I hate — 

My veins are rushing virulence ! 

Yes, revenge, drench't in his sordid soul ! 

\_Attempts to stab. Exit Chas. 

Fortune, deformed and gnarling god destroying, 
Thou blood-brain of revolt, thou hissing hand 

Of hundred fangs, and heart's stilliform of evil — 

\_E spies John approaching. 
Wast but designs you dug in my idolatry, 
And practice made thee pliant? Yes. 

Enter John. 
Yet what gaudy creature is this man 
In foul court of accusation. [Aside. 

From base suspicions free thee fore further 
Thou com'st near. 
John. In dense dishonor 

1 see no light to innocence ; guiltless still. 

Then no nearer dear I come, helpless on this guilt. 
It is the rock detimbers. 

Mary. Hast now learned 

The shining superficial needs quicker patching 
Than the drab ? — to life is lustre little value 
But makes the mender harder matching ? 



32 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

And insincere stumbling in suspicion 

Dead or petrified? Then true, no more fraud. 

Since lives like plots complex in extrication cheap ; 

For dissimulation wears a danger, 

And the slink oft leaves his sleeve 

Upon a nail ; since hypocrisy must sleep 

And exposure is a stealthy tyrant of the night. 

Hark and hear : Sir, I do bid you, go. 

John, Ah, I met thee but to mourn thee, kissed 
thee 
But to weep thee, and love's illimitable delight 
Illimitable sorrow braves my confines of endurance. 
The ocean thought on the humble shores 
Of each succeeding day to be the briny drink 
Of gaunt despair. Abject ! sneered ! despised ! 
Yet, ever still the consort of my sorrow. [Exit. 

Mary. Two stars met, two luminaries shattered 
Into nothingness. The firmament effluvia, 
To me no more the flowers afflatus. Ah me ! 
What word of world now but woe ! 
Gone with that voice the cup-bearers 
Of exquisiteness unto my felicity. 
The world wearies on in apostolate of pain. [Exit. 

Scene II. Robbers' camp in wood. Garrett a 

robber. 

Gar. From culture's hills to gullies vulgar ; 
From the kiss society's spurs of flight ; 
From life to vice, from man to baseness. 
Thief. Again. Again a thief. A chief of thieves. 
Ah, but for a Monica to pray for me ! 



ACT II. SCENE II. 33 

Before my Rome mother plead with me ! 

To be low methinks my lot for nature's black, 

My heart is grisly, — they are not. 

How quick in quaint's nomenclature 

We can rig defect in disfavor and must stay ! 

In soft phrase couch our compunctious grief, 

In palliating accusation build our abomination, 

In mud another term bed thick end exact ! 

And yet, heard me any say it — I'd kill him ! 

I'm not bad at heart, but bad in manner gotten. 

My birth's to blame that I'm a thief and full of 

villainy. 
Yea, as once a maiden wantoned in crime's 
Unhallow'd sheets, behold the collied fire 
The phenix springs, thou thee of — 
Perhaps the girl I do condemn her. 
Some polished scoundrel used in conning strumpets, 
And virtue deigning dalliance promenade, 

then to meet persuasions from the street. 
Now for charnel-house I'd change their shame — 
My portion in the world for asylum with the dead. 
And then, a robber ; dishonor welded to dishonor. 

1 am crowded madness ; thus forever dwelling. 
I must deck the present in carnations 
Pleasant. Oho, this — Oh no, this sore 

Too old and sore to soothe in the absurd ; 
This ache to tickle in the gewgaw of an empty 
word. 
Enter Agnes masked and garbed a robber. 
He'll cut this tension. Fellow, hither. 

Agnes. Commend my mind to your command. 



34 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

Gar. 'Twas thee, fellow, when sped the steely 
Tooth eternity from midnight's ebon ambush 
Swerved the assassin's sword ? Saved my life ? 

Agnes. Ay, ay. 

Gar. 'Twas adroit, and timed in time's 
Own nicety. Undoubtedly divine prevention. 
My tongue is fool in softer school, 
To thank were mockery's mutt'ry. — 
Thou art not masculine, excuse me if I say't, 
But tender built ; thy flesh in folds nor knotted 
To resistance. Had he killed me he'd turned on 

thee. 
Had thou not fear in failure? 

Agnes. Sir, none. 

Gar. Thy voice is soft ; it stirs a skeleton. — 
But ; I am burning gratitude. Tell me for thee 
Within the province possible aught act may repay, 
And I'll do't if 'twere to pick mountains off Sahara. 

Agnes. Ne'er to wed determined yet lovest me 
thou dost. 
Ay, determination like a sleepless savage 
That peep'th perdu behind that soul strains to me. 
Behind thy gratitude thou art brute ; 
In night's black shift that brow my love I now 
Unfolded. When thou art weaker in thy will 
Time am opportune. Till then must wait 
Fore again to plead my heart, this cursed strangeness 
Keeps thee from me. My dear request I will not 

now. 

[Aside. 

Gar. A secret chacks in silence ; say it. 



ACT II. SCENE II. 35 

Lad, did not thy lady love thee fairly? 
These grains of thymy mischief 
Weigh a fodder woe upon the man. 
Is't this weights thy gait? I have much 
Observed thy solemn step, o'erweary pace 
In stately sad and tempered gravity. 
Unmask thy face, confide thy sorrow. 

Agnes. 'Tis my maxim ne'er confide in fens, sir. 
I'll fly fore I unmask ! [Aside. 

Gar. Boy, wert bold 

In truth, astute in subterfuge, in peace, 
Nor visored in the boggy land of outlaws. — 
Confide dear friend and gratitude thy server. 

[Puts his arm upon her shoulder. 
Agnes. Nay, but thy expressions gratitude my 
boon 
To further service. — Didst say thy life before at- 
tempted ? 
Gar. Yes, who would have struck me down last 
night 
Last week a villain in it. 

Agnes. ? ra y tell me how. 

Gar. I'll tell thee. 'Tis dreadful (I'm out of 
adjectives) , 
When world of mortal man o'erwhelms 
In that awful revolution. From unknown wilds 
Of a body's boundaries lost, from depths 
Cimmerian nature coming to the struggle 
With the unseen forces of thy million fears. 
To save it flesh spending spasms supernatural 
Pounding void ; steel-plint'ring strength 



36 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

Emptying in the atmosphere ; frothing efforts 

Volleys in the catchless ether ; 

And utmost in a multitude of doves 

Pouring from the loft of power. 

Meantime the brain distraught in double tragedy. 

Thought in terror whiles the mind reviews ; 

The spirit gasps, a whirlwind in the soul ; 

There appears a spectacle, the lot of life 

Tolerably small, sweet illimitable : 

Grand to ravish, so imposing, verdure unattainted ; 

Spring as we would say buttoned up 

In splendors, — a pearly isle perfection 

Sunk in an ocean innocence. On a sudd'n, 

Trembles to the tread disdain of surly arbiter. 

'Tis I in pride, offense and sin. Behold ! behold ! 

The isle erupts, the skies convulse, 

The green and the glitter gone. Mine eyes 

Plunge in their prisons, talons tear me ; 

Remorse, remorse, remorse, remorse, remorse. 

The day of ecstasy in thrall of damned one. 

For look'st now where leaped purity 

A carnal torrent — cascades shame ; 

The emerald elevations nursing fogged, 

Corruption washing in the ditches ; 

Holy opportunities disorder's brood 

Eating each alive. — But yet, let me first ask 

Wert thou e'er spread in sweat condensed of death ? 

Of those ominous drops of horror wet and cold 

Of ulterior hand ? No ? Ne'er in the icy gust 

Of death's pushed open gates caressed ? Ah ? ah ? 

Nor thence the diabolical burst of death's 



ACT II. SCENE II. 37 

Licentious laughter ? Nor heard from hell 

The dread, sonorous resonance 

As thought ne'er echoed in the corridors of mortal? 

I mean wert ne'er in accident nigh closed 

Upon existence ? Shook on the feeble shoot of life ? 

No? 

Agnes. No. 

Gar. Then how may I tell? 

Agnes. He tells not how, the manner in it or 
escape ; 
His poor, tormented conscience venting its experience. 

[Aside. 
'Twere horrible to die unplumed 
The wing of wrongs. 

Gar. Hence ! thou art but horn 

To my melancholy howl. 

Agnes. Sir, discontent is volant ; 

From man to man silent envy through the camp. 

Gar. What do they envy ? 

Agnes. Sir, thy leadership. 

Gar. These moral reprobates, rebels of the world 
Jealous of my standing 'mongst them ? Well said. 
Dissensions are ever rifest in desertions. 
But whom dost think is sedition's chief? 
In that same skin methinks conspirator 'gainst my life. 

Agnes. Whom do you most love in camp? 

Gar. Thee. 

Agnes. But whom most courts your love 
In manner likely? 

Gar. Thee. 

Agnes. But whom with love and laugh, 



38 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

Commendatory and agreeing? 

Gar. Anthony? He? 

Agnes. Be safe ; beware. Upon my heart, be- 
ware ! \_Exit. 

Gar. Verily a strange chap and deceptive ; 
Dipping in demeanor then a sage, 
There a gosling, here a mountaineer. 
But for him I were despoiled my title man. 
Man? Man. What sweet solemnity in a name ! 
A goblet of unique — - % a rose — a sword — a kingdom ! 
A gabion of dark profound — the surname of the 

mystery. 
Man? What is man more than name? 
A bone — a poor uncertainty to fears. 
What is man but putrid matter round a maw ; 
Meat in mold and movement and a loon yells grand ; 
A scrawl upon mortality and form yclept a man : 
Unwound of nothing, and in a circle see it. — 
Bah ! 'Tis breath and not belief. Positive 
How complacent while neath your seat 
The subject plunders. 
What ! this spirit speaking but the pulse 
Of parent perfect? No more? We say, 
Nature's animated atom and consciousness 
Time's charity to parts ? 
Monstrous ! These balanced sides, reign of liberal 

lines 
Of some wit directed ; these fallals plastic 
Attempered and arranged in recesses of predestination. 
Indeed this reservoir of blood in pelt of pattern 
On business fraught; this putrescence split 



ACT II. SCENE II. 39 

And gashed for some contrivance sure. 

Ah but — yet — is ? — Ah, 'tis these feast doubt's 

Dark dinner in the breast. And philosophy 

Great orb of all, a fool answers sued : 

But presumption wins with mad assumptions. 

And with our dainty theories we but drive it 

Darker ; like pigmies mauling mysteries 

When we do question ways working in a quarry. 

We'll call thee mongrel out of mystery and a doubt ; 

'Twixt gloom and myth standing in the dappled light. 

Call — If I knew what to call 'twere thy name I called. 

A fool's strength is in his theme ; 

To be a fool 'tis make thy theme supreme. 

Each fair argument in the meshes questions 

I'll not think or utter in't. — 'Tis nice thus wise — 

Enter Anthony. 

Ant. Ha, ha, captain. 

Gar. I was thinking. 

Ant. For thoughts so glum — 

Gar. Never very merry. 

Ant. Let me in, I'll drive the laughter out. 

Gar. Joke. one of thine yesterday. 

Ant. What soured it? 

Forsooth you smile exceeding ill. 'Tis gout. 

Gar. 'Tis mine this disease excess. Hast thou 
Not met that shallow soul and lean, cheap wit 
Sickening in senseless excess? I'm sick. 
I'm sick of hearing thee be funny. 

Ant. Thy indisposition let me give a potion ; 
Simple formula will unclog the wheel of health. 

Gar. If thou depriv'st a mouse of sense 
Unbless him not of scent. 



40 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

Ant. Dost distrust ? 

Gar. Thou stink' st ot treachery and I mistrust 
Thou seek'st to doctor me to poison me, 
To make succession easy for I am known 
Thy sequacious soul aspires a spirit leading ; 
To wit, command this devilish horde to its hellish 

victory. 
Poltroon forbear my life, forbear, forbear. [Exit. 

Ant. Suspects my schemes, perceives my strategy 
'Gainst his being and his precedence. 
Ah, the moon has two sides, as has he. 
To me his one side fair and kind, t'other turns ; 
And now hate he grinds upon my pate, 
Rancor now replaceth his regard. How calm, 
Lofty, haughty, walks he inferior earth. 
Conceit soon weeps and rocks for folly ; 
This prig soon felled of fortune merit. 
But for this stranger rider last night wert dead, 
But for the parry of this most skilless soldier, 
But for chance last week void same essay rescuing. 
He's wary now and watching, yet again 
I'll steer a thrust unherald, I will lead. 

Enter two robbers. 
He walks the world and we are incidents 
Unworthy space and speech. 

ist Rob. Whom this now? 

Ant. Our paper captain. 

2d Rob. He is reserved. 

Ant. Mum. Silence stockades him feeble. 
Were given he to speech his dread countenance 
Would show character most weak. 

ist Rob. Alone, sir, 



ACT II. SCENE II. 41 

I've seen him jig and rage and fret for fight. 

Ant. Let me captain, thee two two lieutenants. 

1st Rob. A were- wolf ; blood him not. 

2d Rob. Good! How? 

Ant. Nominate when a wedge will widen 
Flaw in loyalty. They come ; be in among. 

Re-enter Agnes, masked, and many robbers. 
Knights — 

Agnes. See, he will beguile thee with his wiles ; 
In vain titles, gentlemen, beware, he'll flatter thee. 

Ant. Who are you? 

Agnes. Remains thy riddle, guess it. 

Can't? Your brains are sop. 

Ant. Insult me not. — 

Agnes. Insult me not or I'll make thee a thing to 
bury ! 

Ant, Did I draw, thou would run. 

Agnes. Draw, I declare. 

See — look — watch — I duel you ! [ They fight. 

Enter Garrett. Breaks down their swords. 

Gar. Anthony, dost pick this youth and awkward 
victim 
To lay cold ? Coward ! In thy teeth I sling it ! 
Before the nightingale is in tales to the moon 
Get thee thy guts and luggage out of camp. 
Thou soothing salve and pestilence, hence ! 

Ant. Haughty and catarrhy, cantankerous and 
dyspeptic 
Wretch I shall kill thee yet ! [Exit. 

Gar. Broken points and pieces jounce out 

[To men. 
Your discontentedness. Withdraw to election. 



42 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

Go quick, choose an other head. [Exeunt men. 

Stay thee. Duty is blunt business. [ To Agnes. 

Hence, home in spirit orderly. [Agnes going. 

Stay. Thou art heat unto my friendly heart. 
Why did you fight Anthony ? Thou art incapable 
For know'st of swords as dost of manual labor. 
Agnes. Methought to kill and thus make thee 

secure ; 
For restless he till he killed thee ; 
And if I died to see me dead thou'd kill him. 
If aught i' the world is valuable 'tis life ; 
Thou couldst have it, I'd take death. 

Gar. And because I love thee, because in raging 

vice 
I see thy drowning youth to thy home I order thee. 
Go forth and woo the world as would thy wife. 
If subsistence afford thee but three hairs, braid them. 
Or if a toiling modern life awaits thy home-returning, 
Consider thou art blessed beyond the highest. 
Endeavor be a current problem in all fortunes ; 
And if thou be idle hostage wealth's poor fellow, 
Compelled to ease, and but must spend, 
Take this to thy heart. In all things 
Love thou moderation, e'en as Nature, grandess, 
Scorns extremes ; and minds advanced 
Perceive the beautiful in simplicity : 
Since around thy mind means thy manner's mind. 
And too much you know is multiple of rogues. 
Then, aspire, but early learn thy limit, 
For without man's little lot 'tis cold, he's hungry 
And distressed. Thus : Steady in enterprise, 
Ready in desperation, calm in confidence. 



ACT II. SCENE II. 43 

Strive ever ; to drift to death is damnable, 

Despicable to shamble in success. 

And now about the subject of thy company : 

Have about thee many friends ; but remember 

Men are diamonds, some are flawed and small ; 

Too, that face in fair obtrusive, 

Beware a tangled tail in darkness. 

Be discreet, for poor discretion is wretch indeed. 

Thy past ever lever to thy future, 

Midst men's emotions taciturn, pond'rous 

Shalt thou be a spirit i' the world. 

This ring wear. [ Takes ring from finger. 

Agnes. No. [Takes her hand. 

Gar. Thou wilt wear it. 

[Slips ring on Agnes' finger, kisses her hand and 
holds it. 

Agnes. A kiss. O ye ancient fires, how thou 
blazeth in my love ! [Aside. 

Take it off, take it off, I'll wear it not, 
For languish lose or hunger give away ; 
Better scar, unjoint, the figures more impress ; 
Take't whole 'twill snap thy hydra-head offense ; 
Take't 'twill pluck thee to't ; 'twill beckon in thee. 

Gar. Remove. 

Agnes. My mask I may not. 

Gar. Bright suits 

Seek display, the sockless avoid exposure. 
Art harpy ? gorgon? I command, unmask ! 

Agnes. Then through the ring I ask — 

Gar. I press for pardon. 

[Kisses Agnes' hand again. 



44 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

Tell, sir, I beg thee, in what art wise of me. 
Thou'll never go to hell for being honest ; 
Then be honest tell art crazy and but warble, 
Or strange through the ways of artificial man 
Individuality in facts before my life ? 

Agnes, A mortal mourns thee on a rock teary, 
Stark and starless ; she of thy sin. 
Once lily tall a rakish restant ; 
Virginity empetalled woeful in its loss, 
In her swamp this symmetry midst dreams 
Tormented her corpse is purging dead. 
Mad? O God ! Distract? O ye demons ! 
On the moonlight hills the wolves hooloo 
And mock her meekly calling. She fell. 
Who ? Weird screaming in thy conscience ! 
One more round fit the circle of thy fancy ? 
Ignoble cur to fancy's fitful circumstance ? 
No ; she says thou lovest her and but her. 
Return to her. Thy ring I'll keep. Good-bye. 

\_Exit. 

Gar. Strange, most strange, uncanny and un- 
real. 
I'll take it for an omen and find my Agnes out. 
To-night I'm to her nor in my birth to bury her. 
I'll act no more the craven thing but trust to love 
Thou'll not scorn if learn how I was born. 
Enter a Robber. 

Rob. Captain, but thee will lead us the men do 
say. 

Gar. Hath Anthony gone ? 

Rob. No. But this masked stranger 

Opposed but now is off on his blooded animal. 



ACT II. SCENE III. 45 

Gar. He'll not return. Bid Anthony wait for me. 
'Tis safer 'gainst a bear to be in company 
And if he goes my way I'll travel with him for a day. 

Rob. Do you go away? 

Gar. Yes, but ask not many questions. 

I'll speak with Anthony myself. Come. [Exeunt. 

Scene III. Two rooms in Carroll 9 s. In Room 2 
Garrett and Anthony eating. 
In Room 2. 
Gar. Why shifted and perplexed bid I to enter? 
Ant. Did I look opposed? 

Gar. And mischief in thy face. 

Ant. Eagerness behind acuteness tricked the 
truth. 

Enter Servant with more food. 

Gar. Servant of this mansion thine's a goodly 
act, 
For since the eve our leaving camp, 
Long-starved and saddle-sore we've traveled, 
In this our robber's bold attire not daring 
Village inn to enter, two days we've hungered 
Nor tasted more than brackish water. 
Be thou content to take as giving we. 

[ Gives Servant gold. 

Enter Mary Carroll in Room i. Listens. 

Ant. How long have you been servant here ? 
Ser. The many year. Since mistress' mother 

married. 
Ant. Is thy mistress' mother dead ? 
Ser. She is. 



46 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

Ant. Is thy mistress' father dead? 
Ser. He is. 

In Room 1. 

Mary. One voice in habiliments familiar. 
Who ? Who ? Wits why so wildly run ? 
The friends in recollection. No? No? 
I've heard ! somewhere that voice. 

In Room 2. 
Ant. How did he die? 

Ser. I' faith he didn't die, mur- 

dered was he. 
Mistress' cousin-german murdered him. 

Ant. That's me. 

[Aside. 
How do you know? 

Ser. Mistress knows. 

Ant. Where's mistress now? 

Ser. A sleepin', behaps a dreamin'. 

Gar. Anthony I leave thee at the cross-roads. 
Sir, come with me to the stable. [ To Servant. 

Anthony follow when art filled. 

Ant. I'm after soon. 

I'll make speed with this. Please wait me there. 

[Exeunt Gar. and Servant. 

In Room 1. 

Mary. This last accent culled — 

This toothed expulsion — chewed knavery. 

Ant. Time and chance conjoint. My guilt in 
proof 
Stirs and sleeps with her. I'll creep 
To where she dreams and advance her. 
Mary Carroll as died thy father so groanless thou. 



ACT II. SCENE III. 47 

Enters Room i. 

Mary. Hold ! Anthony. Behold her in grace 
Revenge hath given. Shrink, diminish, 
Canst not escape these weary years precision. 

[Unfolds a knife. 
See this cast iron that ploughed 
My father's simple heart ; stained in't 
This steel run his sacred stream, — 
Death's ground edge took up in the temple 
Of his life. Let clang thy last amen 
For thy wrong erects reward. 'Twas thou 
Conjured hallowed home a voiceless hollow ; 
Dug here in my heart a grave and love 
A ghostly column. His eyes were open 
Spoke avengement, embosomed this told tool. 

Enter Garrett, Room 2. 
Anthony ! Anthony ! Where has Satan gone ? 

Enter Garrett, Room i. 

Mary. Die my father's murderer ! Die ! Die ! 
Gar. Let not that dagger judge thee ! 
\_Knife falls ; Ant. picks it up and holds 
to strike. 
Mary. Mercy ! 

Ant. I am mercy's monkey. Punk, plunge ! 

[Attempts to strike and Gar. kills. 
Gar. An ape may never more than imitate ! 
Woman own thou that remarkable reptile 
Shame for it nor be so dark in horror. 
When recreants return why grieve ? 
Graves their rightful keepers. He was coils 
And snaky instincts clad, in sheen, 



48 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

Panting in precaution, pernicious in security^ — 

A tear? he's not worth it. — Anthony, unexampled 

thief 
How sleep'st thou ? How stiff thine arm ! 
How oft i' the night did't lift to cleave my neck 
To find watchful mine were higher? 
Let me repose thy arms in harmony, 
Thy head heavenward. I'll lend thee charity. 

Mary. Man thou art fair. 

Gar. Ah? yes; some. 

Mary. Great — 

Gar. Great ; but sad in faculty's expression. 

Mary. How odd. 

Gar. Greatness is agate oddities. 

Mary. Thy voice rolls combers on sands golden, 
Flat and perfect. 

Gar. Some are deft with pretty phrases, 
Some mouth out their meaning. 

Mary. Throne of my — 

Gar. Ditch of my own. 

Mary. My prince, my passion,— 

Gar. Nay, passionate prince 

Of the tragic palace of Inferno. 

Mary. What marvels blend you in mine eye ! 
Thou art the gilt upon the urn of world. 

Gar. And half the guilt within it. 

Mary. Sir, thou art my span of destiny. 

Gar. Thou art surface set of edges 
Cutting cords of constancy. In love 
Let thou not straddle more than thou 
Canst clean recover. Is Carroll not thy name ? 

Mary. Yes, sir. 



ACT II. SCENE III. 49 

Gar. By my honor thought it was ! 

Thou art she bestow' d her hand upon two brothers 
Within a week if thy record I remember right. 

Mary. Prithee who he — 

Gar. Mine Ephesian history. 

Look on this and thank 'tis not answerless. 

[Points at body of Atxt. 
Woman, in removal be minute for science 
Is a sleuth-hound ; too, procrastination 
Is a sophist dissipating opportunity. [ Going. 

Mary. Waters in a tumult, scorn a tempest 
In the heavens wilt launch me to contumely, 
To depthless dark dishonor? Guilt zigzagging 
To direct them$ wilt make thy victim's victim? 
Take the corpse away or I am damned for it ! 
They'll say I did't. Remove, for remove I can 
not! 

Gar. My safety is thy sleep in incident ; 
Thy head chopped off the circumstance is dead. 

Mary. Trust me in sworn and solemn secrecy. 

Gar. Woman's secrecy is hangman's noose for 
fools. 
Well, remember speech is specious, 
Silence is immortal logic. 

[Exeunt through Room z, Gar. dragging Ant. 



50 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

ACT III. 

Scene I. Cabin in the mountains about Almont 

manor. 

Enter Garrett, Olt and Xen, robbers. 

Gar. Thou swearest loyalty. Yet I know thee 

not. 
Olt. Beat of beak, wing and talons prove we re- 
creants. 
Gar. I will sound their service. \_Aside. 

Enzoned in thee, sirs, range provinces incircum- 

scriptible ; , 

Yea, sovereigns all — autocrats o'er realms imme- 
diate. 
Laugh not. Idiots push where wise men justly 

pause. 
Hark thy souFs approval ; try thy minds estimate ; 
Oppose with limits the ends of thine own nature ; 
Lords adept with multiples be accurate in thine own. 
Thou seem'st more serious. Let me go on. 
Behold thy solemn powers 'gainst forted darkness ; 
All in grand kneel as thy dependencies ; 
Hear the crashing shackles of the world 
Tumbling to thy will. Doth it not breathe 
Rebellion in the intellect regnant kings to serve 
The censure of a captious master? 
Vile, applauseless office, damning. 
Go if thou will it ; give thy will its wings. 
Olt. All that we know, but yet we stay. 
Gar. How oft fair promise proves not in expan- 
sion ! 



ACT III. SCENE I. 51 

I'll try again. — But once thou wert young. [Aside. 

Hunt again in innocence ; regale again with truth ; 

Turn back the deluge of thy blood and guilt ; 

Villains all recover buried banks of paradise ; 

Knaves forget the fighting prostitutes in armor 

Of thy forging ; drink, thieves, thought 

At freedom's font of fear ; tremble murderers 

In a conscience's sweet authority. 

Black child astray bask again I say 

In those sunsome days bid break away : 

Behold in pleasant memory valley of thy youth. 

Didst leave upon thy fortune and fear their ridicule 

Without it? or jilted by some laughing damsel, 

Wouldst spite thy life in crime's career? 

Each is gardener of will. Sow deeds as thou 

deem'st. 
Return if it behooveth thee, the way is wide. 

Xen, Drove me from home crime unspeakable. 
Olt. I the jailer slew for vile word ; escap'd. 
Gar, List instructions. I was born a hundred 

miles from here. 
My mother had sixteen children ; but of this big 

brood 
But I am left ; the rest I murdered. 
Cousin or second cousin none have I ; 
So do not question through the country who I am. 
When am silent I'm in sorrow, leave me in my 

sorrow. 
Nor be thou near when destruction in me billows 

rolls. 
I'll pay you well nor question how you live ; 
But with me do not interfere, invite me to confer, 



52 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

Thy disputes refer, nor be two sycophantic asses. 
I love a woman. I am seeking her. 
From home she's gone, friends forgott'n ; 
This hut is base of operations in her quest. 
She was wont to visit me in this town below ; 
On the morrow we shall sally to inquire. 

[Exeunt. 

Scene II. Room in Almonf s. 
Enter Marion. 

Mar. O triumphal morn ! O bellic, celestial 

approach ! 
O multitinted might ! Legions jewels, O flaming 

host I 
Silent so potential advancing nations at a stride. 
O brow of absence how thou art beautified 
In the noiseless labors of the night ! Nature's 
Unlearned laws — unblemished erudition's medley; 
All couplement complete, naught of stealing 
Singular distinction. Nor in exactness immolate, 
Grand's one careless execution. 
O light in love what soul in sea of sympathy ! 
'Tis spring. The universe seems sown in sanction ; 
Filled of balm from Elysium's beaker decant. 
The sparrow in tonic flight, doves in circling doubt ; 
A thousand trills proclaiming, e'en music in the 

crow. 
Then, too, earth's inwrought vernal vest in beauty ; 
Hills embossed, immortal mounds in ambient glory. 
And the gnarled knave does curtsy to his lady elm ; 
The arbutus tells o'er its eternal tale ; the violets 
Hardy in devotion to their rugged, pagan regularity. 



ACT III. SCENE II. 53 

Everywhere jacket buds abruiting sweet report 
Of vict'ry ; and terrene havior make profane 
To move in less than grace. \_Turns away. 

Flower, frail defiance, saved I from winter's fang 
Tell me the things of thy mute world so beautiful 
To know. Exquisite is thy crimson skirt 
Thy purple polonaise, golden slippers 
To tireless sorcery's swift Terpsichore. 
More pleased in praise, and quicker in my presence, 
Life and refinement be not a goose and tell 
Whereof the hues that dyed my lady's texture. 
Out of clime, in the land a stranger — 
Charles, Verness, coming toward. How early in 
affairs. \_J5xzt. 

Enter Charles and Verness. 

Ver. Then 'tis agreed paid amount she's mine. 

Chas. If the farmer follow not his pickers 
He'll market half his crop. — 'Tis not agreed \_Aszde. 
As you have granted. 

Ver. The price is on your lips ; 

Thy mouth is hollow to't. 

Chas. The like of her 

As scarce as snowy sheep save in tale. 
Double that and doubt not that she is thine. 
Were mortal else repulsive she would advance 
The average ; a marvel justly carved in gentle truth. 
Unbreathed to bloom, in time's persuasive talent 
What may not be these first principles ? 
So amorous innocence make us melancholy 
Of our scandals. A blush burning snow-flakes 
Make 'em smell. Nor is she flourish of accomplish- 
ment. 



54 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

In pause and poise blue gulf of intellect 
In swell ; whose noetic powers encompassment re- 
prove 
Thine own poverty. Consider logs of ages fired 
To light time in serving her divinity ; 
Its vessels laden in each drop of her conception ; 
Think on delights there dally ; possession, weigh it. 
Ver. Let be drawn a document of honor. 
Ckas. Honor needs none. 

Ver. A mark in understanding oft spoils the 

devil. 
Ckas, Will chicanes in obligation obligation jeal- 
ous. 
Ver. If men are mailed in a skirmish first with 
straws, 
Were not prevision happier in having been particu- 
lar? 
Ckas. 'Tis not so. What is my stipend for con- 
cession ? 
Ver. A fourth more. 
Ckas. A third make it. 

Ver. A third be it. 

[Sits to a table ; writes. 
Ckas. Move the fraction. 

Ver. This statement in a name. 

Ckas. What a comical sprawl ! If 'tis witty as 
'tis written 
'Twill destroy a company o' budge objectors. 

[Aside. 
[Ver. kands writing. Chas. reads. 
Quite scribed. Thou in terms, I am naked. 
Will I sign and lose a sister? Orphan, only tie? 



ACT III. SCENE II. 55 

I will not sign. Is not father dead and mother? 
As it strikes me, thou wert absent at their funerals? 
Ver. I was away — 
Chas. Thou wert not there. 

Thus parentless and I protector Marion's 
Dost think would deed to thee, miser? 
Besides the contract is not equitable. 

Ver. If that is no, earth contains not contract 

equitable. 
Chas. Double thy gift to her, double my agree- 
ment, 
Insert to woo and wait a moon, I'll affix. 
Ver. Would a beggar make ? 
Chas. Beggary elevate. 

[Ver. counts out. Chas. signs and recounts. 
How debts do shrink in memory ! That third. 

[Ver. counts and gives him. They pass 
papers. 
Come; I'll. show where Marion gathereth sunbeams. 

[ Going. 
He is ! dread the devil ! hogs and ignorance ! 

pest ! 

Enter Garrett. 

Gar. Did thy tongue turn reptile and attacking ; 

[To Chas. 
Did the demons in thee take form and dance before 

thee ; 
Thy surprise more blown, nor groan more rooted. 
I am returned awhile. If monumental sin 
Of mine cast its shadow thwart thy memory 
See it not : I mean my past life dare thou not utter- 



56 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

Me on thy peril never mention or make thy refer- 
ence. 
Take care secrete in thy furrows malice 
Naught unkindly ; or craft crowd thee into killing 

me. 
Let not success be thief of other thought, nor push 
Discretion cross borders anger black and bloody ; 
For a tempest is my shroud ; my soul a brothel 
And pernicious vapors. Descend thou into verity 
I am thy ladder into hell. — And to thee Verness 
Smug, simpering puppet, be not too native 
To the spring, and fence thee from that thing. 
See, I needs but address the wind. 

Enter Olt and Xen. 

Their necks. 
[ They draw and hold close. 
They love blood ; nor care from whence they take it. 
Desist. Pathos in your aspects ludicrous. 

[Olt and Xen drop their swords. 
Charles Almont, dost remember of that lady 
Who once upon mine arm took lewd word 
From thee, and I nigh had plunged my sword 
In thee but she did grasp preventing? 
Chas. I don't — 

Gar. Thou liest ! My men again, his neck. 

[Olt and Xen hold swords close. 
Chas. I do. 

Gar. Men desist; next time knock his head off. 

[ Swords drop. 
Hast seen her since ? 
Chas. No. 

Gar. I believe thee there. 



ACT III. SCENE II. 57 

Charlie I shall see thee later. Verness beware of 

him. 
My men, follow, me ! Verness beware of him. 

[Exeunt Gar., Olt and Xen. 

Chas. Come I'll show where Marion gathereth 

sunbeams. \_Exeunt Chas. and Ver. 

Enter Royal Carroll in the arm of Agnes 
Nance garbed a gentleman. 

Agnes. Thou sayest thy name is Royal Carroll? 
Is not Marion thy petition here ? 
Be royal in countenance. 'Tis Marion? 

Roy. So. 

Agnes. Cling to this I stole from woman's tome. 
Lover lack quick force the teeth of independence ; 
Enamored she, hold honor her dependence. Then, 

hop not 
In favor down her throat, nor fear at arms-end ; 
Neither be mechanical, measure not thy mind and 

mien. 
Each impulse challenge ; kiss and cool again. 
In affection ardent not improper ; in flatt'ry 
Be not spare ; and when thou dip'st in praise 
Dip in praise entire. Pause betimes. 
Sue not by brightness, woo by worth. 
This in hate : no virtue like virtue. 
I shall watch thy love. Bid me success 
As I bid thee for I unto my love to-morrow 
Hiding in the mountains here around. 

Roy. I wish thee success. 

Agnes. Good-bye. 

Roy. Adieu. 

[Exeunt oppositely. 



58 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

Scene III. Cabin in the mountains about Al- 
mont manor ; Garrett. 

Gar. O space and compass stern minister to that 
life ; 

Powers in prospect ope the hand invisible munificence, 

And be harm pregnant mollify conceptions' wrath. 

Love, how ill fit thee this gross, unpolished sphere. 

Point perfect, tower of excellence, untamed degree ; 

Woman wide, heaven deep, true as truth ; 

Aye, ne'er did ways so run in quantity and propor- 
tion. 

Before I met thee thus and these happy Agnes Nance. 

But now imhomed, non-bound, unguided and ungov- 
erned, 

Lost. — But the curse it stands, I met thee. 

I met thee. Aye, like havoc in the sleep of innocence, 

Villain fleet as angel, woe on wings surreptious. 

Then queendom modesty succeed of scarlet shame ; 

Beauty poured aloft ornate in simple sanctity 

Stripp'd, as in pathetic spell-work of the palmer- 
worm : 

Purity in obscurity like the snow the shadow shelters 

Till trespassed laws of lust vast as vanity. 

Ah, too late does folly speed the errand of regrets, 

Heed ruptures hard processional on disesteem ; 

For then my turn straight it spurns, 

I, spurn of womb, man and world, creation and 
creator, 

I of dishonesty thine only honesty refused. 

Surly, sententious, dogged, fickle fool, outcast send 
thee. 



ACT III. SCENE III. 59 

Thy face upturned and piteous finds no pity in me ; 
Kneeling, pleading, advantage falls whip upon com- 
plaint. 
Yes, who once was slave can best lash a slave ; 
Oppression now packet of oppressed torment 
Can add science to the load. And now my heart 
Great groan, a tear but it knew the road. 
A villain may love when men emotioned ordinary 
Know but vows and mode. 

eye for a glance ! dispelling daylight thine 
In these thick senses fast and dark ! 

Ah ! what fields and cities may grow o'er partition ; 
What passionless sky stretch its successive length ; 
This epoch of my longing rumbling in dread flight. 
Ye age of absence the rushing waters anguish ; 
Agnes gone and regions mine own inundating. 
Yea, like swine in mine own torrent swimming 
Till swimming saw my throat. O bitterness ! 
But why pout o'er portion when no pity admeasures? 
Why with fortune haggle ? swordless trouble ? 
Fight? Badger seeking in the open dogs to throttle? 
Let love be brain hands do beat the head? 
Rabbit stamp enjoined by lion? Or senseless still, 
With grace and tears of antelope fate to captivate ? 

1 know what I'll do. Agnes I will learn to hate thee. 
I will scribble billet muse or read it 

Ev'ry tolling hour till eternity take care of me. 
I'll do't though I am maniac's rehearsal. 
Agnes, ne'er again shall puny impulse gather me to 
thee. [ Writes. 

To my pocket ; know thou art to patch a sadness. 

[ The paper falls to the floor. Exit. 



60 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

Enter Agnes. 

Agnes. Heart, hold ! Why knock'st thou about 
my body so ? 
Lightly footfalls ; care not too heavy be my tread. 
What ! my soul dost thou plead to return ? 
Do I tread in on death's sleeping king? 
Before the throne of blood a falling, crawling, of- 
fender ? 
No ; one my love, my lord, my king, my Jove. 
He said my slave toiling in my wonders' world ; 
But in perfect love were we the unit of equality. 
And though the secret severed love sits equal yet. 
If he's a monarch, I'm a monarch's queen. 
In rights I'm splendent ; in wrongs' train parade ; 
As his idol of affiance again will I front. 
A paper ; and in his hand ! What largess to kiss ! 

\_Picks up paper and kisses it. 
A poem ! Admittance to the strains Elysian ! 

\_Reads. 
With a hate as ferce as Jlesh I hate 

Agnes thee and thy polluted freight. 

Brittle be my blood, my lids in grip, 

Nance, fore thou across my vision trip. 

Strength is passing ; — mind is setting. 

Ho ! Let me die ! O volumes reason bear me on 

thy ebb. 
O ye frowning followers of that nether depth, 
Hell's frenzy wallowers in torments — come, come, — 
Swiftly with me in my impotence, burn 
Out of me all conceit of him for whom I died. 
Do I not die ? Can I not die ? 
O black passion give me the drink of death ! 



ACT III. SCENE IV. 6 1 

O ye twisted fires come quick entangle me ! 
O grave come quick and take my peeling corpse ! 
Was ever vigil for such dole ? ban violent ? 
O dread oblivion dissolve till thought in me is not ! 
Hark, he comes. Ah tears that I were thee remain- 
ing ! [ Writes and Exit. 

Enter Garrett. 
Gar. Agnes' voice and heels, for sure ! Eyes 
are liars. 
Like a ghost she followeth. O my senses ! 
If I see red leaf she had redder lips ; 
Blue flowers, red flowers, white flowers all remind — 
Poor Nero. How oft the rosied occasion 
Dragged thee to thy trough of blood ; 
Thy deeds tremendous talons tore thee ! 

[Espies Agnes' note ; reads it. 
I came in love, vow and ring bringing ; 
As yore to-day hiss and sting winning. 

[Sounds his horn. 

Enter Olt and Xen. 
A woman, fetch her in. She's nigh round. Be 
gone ! 
Olt. Ay, ay, that we will — the elusive flea ! 

[Exeunt Olt and Xen. 
Huddling in thy narrowing ambit, trapped in a trice, 

[Exit. 

Scene IV. In Almonfs garden. 
Enter Garrett. 
Gar. Aye, e'en may his shades of generation 
To man shoot shafts to split the moon. 
Why 'tis seen gimcracks borne, adored 



62 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

Though they be brainless, weak and delicate, 

Because it happed he happed to be of noble birth. 

Or a little fellow, God's providence assisting, 

Wrought a little wonder, on the instant popularity 

Becomes his hatchet-man from whom he leaps in 
ordeal 

Of adulations, feasts, receiving men's esteem. 

O world thou bubble of idolatry ! 

O degenerate age ! when dignity will hang on 
idiocy ; 

Virgins strut, dissolution angles to enamels banter ; 

Power's drunk, and orders shoulder with the bold ; 

Noble sembles base, and fidelity in pushing for posi- 
tion ; 

All because a valiant, tyrant or a thief. 

Or, as I say, because his father was. 

But O woe wild fault once they turn honor's hounds ! 

How oft my dreams discover my dishonorable or- 
phanage. 

For what of life is worse — hush, words are adders, 

And guilt in herring hundreds shimmers in my 
shame. 

What, guilt? Indeed, and men step back three feet. 

Is it so ? Am I but flourish of a sin ? Can irregu- 
larity 

Before my birth chase me through existence? 

Are there some circumstances prodigies 

Beyond consistency ? Tush ! to think of it ! 

Who may blame result nor know it be above them, — 

Who contumely on a consequence a cause 

They can not criticise ? Out of wedlock got, 

Admit a product infamy, how that poesy transmit? 



ACT HI. SCENE IV. 63 

But fools and fatalists linger in dualities congenital. 

Out of wedlock got again I say 

I am but breach of custom, less etiquette, less law ; 

And law but lines on time, habit harnessed. 

I am a flower, rootless nor compelled, 

Grand in will and freedom ; and never 

May be beauty oblique to ends of ordination. 

If men are to be weighed by birth 

At birth they should be weighed. 

[There is heard a low whistle. Gar. an- 
swers it.~\ 

Enter Olt and Xen. 
To your stations hie. If you see her trail her; 
If you lose her you lose your carmine, scarlet slush. 
She is woman wonderful, answers name of Agnes 

Nance. 
I am thirsty. When I've obtained a drink I shall 

visit thee. \_Exeunt Gar. Olt and Xen. 

Enter Charles. 
Chas. Happy is the sleep of poverty pious in't, 
Or scabby crown the vermine errant o'er the bolster, 
Than head in dread adversity tiptoeing in his snores. 
Since childhood polished farthing the batten 
Of ambition ; dangling fore Fortune's 
Shriveled fist of smothered charity. 
Cheat and cover lest loss sweat through inducement ; 
Watching vain moments of possession to disseize ; 
Remorseless, sleepless years for a gainless gold. 
And now oh so sad, unhappy, watching 
Reunion with my blind ideals running in 
So farcical, and life's best heart assailing 
To escalade attainment bitter.-: — 



64 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

And now to-day comes Verness. Shall I consent 
My Marion's sale to him and his vile seizen ? 
Shall I cap career's rapacity in act this? 
For if she has a single sin 'tis hatred of him. 
Nor love has he. Then shall I sell to appetence? 
Sell ? Why I've sold — my orphan sister to Verness. 
Ye cheerless years of usuries, imbittered memories, 
Ye my store of inward grievings are ye 
In this act exceeding all to be augmented in thy store ? 
No. It must not be. It shall not be. 
No, Verness, thou shalt not own by force, 
Snatch and away, but gain thou must her will to wed 
I am resolved. — How easy to resolve. But for Carroll 
'Twere not necessary ; this bashful gatch and awk- 
ward lover. 
Were Carroll dead 'twere out of muddle. 
For then Verness induce I could unto thy bed. 
Were Carroll dead. Why not make him dead ? 
Is he not brother of that dame accursed — ? 
How I hate to think of her ! Carroll thou shalt die. 

Enter Verness. 
Ver. This long have I prevailed, longer not. 
Hear you ? I will not ! She is but a height 
Increasing and coruscant, insuperable and alluring ; 
And when from simple matter spring to issue 
Matrimony, failing, am torn on jutments 
Of discouragement. I intend to bear her off to-day. 
Ckas. Thou art bleeding on the precipice of 

strife. 
Ver. I've plead in forms cogent would provoke a 
stone ; 
In dainty terms spoke of love immaculate, eternal ; 



ACT ITI. SCENE IV. 65 

In emotion's thunder turned the ferment of restraint, 

Ckas. She never boggles at Carroll's swainish 
ways. 
But note I have how playfully with vacancy 
When thy suit most smokes. Yet I know she loves 
thee. 

Ver. I joke and joke, she laughs and smiles. 
Then again to jokes and thus loud in collision till 
exhaust. 

Ckas. And, thereby, lost long applause for few. 
Lonely soon or gasping the cumulative idol 
Told all his stories sooner. 

Ver. Once whet, intent to tally 

How easy now in ridicule. Give your last kiss 
For I load on agreement. As fair is fool 
I put my faith in force. I take away to-day. 

Ckas. She is cold. 

Ver. She'd freeze four feet in three. 

Ckas. And heartless. 

Ver. As hollow as an oracle. 

Ckas. But skin and pigment. 

Ver. Spurious in the human else. 

Ckas. Ass, what a garland wants thy lust ! Nup, 
Know not thou she loves thee more than me ? 
This morn caught musing. List till while I quote. 
The petals of superb curling on center sterling 
Summer *s murmur in my cheek when he is near, 
My blood a quick* ning rill when V ernes s is near, 
An indejiniteness in billows of entrancement . 
Carroll, the stolid moon ; and yet Hike the clown ; 
And as are the tides attracted controller o' my 
soul. 



66 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

Ver. Said Marion that ? 

Chas. Verily I say it. 

Rise predominance ! quench this debile deity ! 
In his extinction art thou distinct. 
Rip his heart Marion's thou art lone lord in favor. 
Daunted ? Look, I lead to't. War is parent peace. 
Ah, the orbit of those arms whose touch 
Will trickle in thy toe ; think, free traffic 
In those lips like fruit voluptuous in Eden 
Of temptation. Or, sup hunger with one-eyed Loss. 
Thou art full facts ; on thee devolves responsibility. 

Ver. She is mine to-day to take away. 

Chas. The contract speaks in peace. Thou shalt 
not take 
By rape. While Carroll lives in dominance 
Her love for thee is dormant. The contract speaks in 

peace. 
Thou shalt not take by rape. 

Re-enter Garrett partially drunk, Olt 

and Xen. 
Gar. Verness, doth Charles try thee to manip- 
ulate — ? 

Enter unobserving Marion and Royal, 
arm in arm. 
Mar. Nature's meek, small man alone thrason- 
ical. 
Ah, no, Royal, thou art wrong, nothing parvanimity, 
Nature's great, nature's grand, nature's big and good. 
Roy. Love the world enlarges, but loneliness ab- 
sumes, 
Thou knowest not I love ; there — therefore am I 
lonely. 



ACT III. SCENE IV. 67 

Gar. I want to fight. I like thy size. [ZbRoY. 
Back ! callow youth ! Back ! back ! or fall ! 

Roy. When Carroll's blood in his feet revolts 
Then call Carroll coward. 

Mar. Prithee, peace ! 

Gar. Pray there and play. 
Roy. And teach as 'twas taught. 

Mar. Stop, I do obtest of thee ! [ They fight. 
Chas. Play well, gentlemen. 

Olt. A score ! 
Xen. No. 

Ver. O match, and what a triumph ! 

Gar. I shall take thy shoes off soon. 
Roy. Henceforth can Almont's garden boast a 
ghost. 
Enter Agnes. Garrett's sword falls from his 

hand. 

Agnes. O warring soul can his young life arbi- 
trate ? 
A hecatomb close conscience? Think thought 
So easy rid? 1 am remorse in memory for ever. 

Gar. Who art thou ? I know thee not. 

Agnes. Edward, thou deniest me? Ah, had I 
denied ! 
Oh no ! O take it not O love and meant my heart ; 
For there grating's checkered pris'ner art. 
Forget thee Edward ? No more than thou 
Canst me forget. 

Gar. The woman's mad ; I know her not. 

Agnes. E'en though faith sailed affinity is found- 
er'd 
Thou art my Jupiter e'en as I wert thy Juno. 



68 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

But, O unhappy man poised upon thy nature's edge, 
Thy lie me denying vain for I come not to thee, 
Nay, my purpose to this couple speak. Aside. 
Tell, Carroll, art thou honest unto Marion? 

Roy. Yes. 

Agnes. Love her? 

Roy. Aye. 

Agnes. Love thou him ? 

Mar. I do. 

Agnes. Beware the soft, sleepy lutes 'gainst thy 
vigilance ; 
Pile thy ardors high heav'n propining. [ Going. 

Garrett I'll not go till told more my woe. 
In delirium raging, penned up in a cage ; 
Nature mad and all invert till e'en pain 
Seemed ecstacy, and thus her fancy ran. 
Plucked her scalp my grave the gory strewments ; 
Chewed her wrists, gnawed her gyves to clasp me ; 
Her ankles snapp'd in efforts to meet me. 
Home to spy; I roused and running entered. 
My bride-maid at her head contort in death ; 
Home again in hired rags unknown. 
An aspen on my sorrow, shrieking, shaken ; 
Agony stenting the unstruck chords of agony. 
Then some one thrust me out. O mother ! mother ! 

[Exit weeping. 

Gar. Mother made from papers, powders, 
paints and pads. 
How well I remember too her father, effete, unfaith- 
ful ; 
Those two dutiful hairs struggling cross his glassy 
pate. 



ACT III. SCENE V. 69 

Gone. May thou not bolt. Go, for I care not. 

Mar. Come away. [To Roy. 

Roy. Love thou ridest my bridled will. 

[Exeunt Mar. and Roy. 

Gar. No more the beast where flow their stale. 

Olt. Ah, then thou know — 

Gar. What he durst her speak ! 

Think 'tis boldness seen — Get thee after her. 
Bring back. 'Twas she before eluded thee. 

Olt. \ A 

Xen. \ A ^ *?• 

[Exeunt Olt and Xen. 
Ver. Hip and lip, sheen and scent, rose of all. 
Chas. Hush. See how necessary 'tis kill Car- 
roll? 
Come. If Marion you're to wed Carroll you must 
kill. [Exeunt Chas. and Ver. 

Gar. They do not find. I must help look. 

[Exit. 

Scene V. Another part of the garden. 

Enter Agnes, Marion and Royal. 

Agnes. Wax not swelled for conceit will spoil a 
king. 
Girl command him not ; his queen serene. 
In school are puny wise but love alone 
Is broad development. Wed and wonder. 
List ; 'tis twice repeated but 'tis not too oft repeated ; 
Heed ye sin advancing while we plod along. 
Friend I kiss thee, and thou art to be happy. 

\ Kisses Mar, 



7<3 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

Mar. You are angel in our way. 
Agnes. Adieu. 

Roy. Adieu. 

[Exeunt Mar. and Roy. 
Agnes. Sweet, jealous, beautiful ; then bold, 
emotional. 
Whiles fearing fate yet will is interference, 
Or I would tell them haste for I mistrust 
Her mutt'ring brother, that other's indignation. 
To-gether hither. I'll here in this summer-house. 

[Hides. 
Enter Charles and Verness. 

Chas. Like agrestic culture jostled for his twang- 
ing 
Condemnation I enjoy to tease thy terror, 
Ignoramus ; thy expostulations, thy disquisitions 
On the nobler, so far without avoiding course 
Of thy zigzag understanding. Pick him slyly, 
Thy rival, Carroll, kill him. Thou art coward, don't. 
Accept the task as it appears ; speed 
Be steed to it motto of this all actual world. 
Thine to-night but behold an other taking. 
Ver. Time is essence of the contract; 
We should extend that clause. 

Chas. Thou art wise to think of it ; subjoin the 
change. 

\_They sit in a bench; Chas. produces ink, 
and Ver. writes J\ 
Before this date Carroll's coffined ? [Reading. 

Ver. And rotten. 

[ They pass papers. 
Chas, Come, let us out. 



ACT IV. SCENE I. 7 1 

Ver. Let us talk not of it. 

[Agnes picks Verness' pocket. Exeunt 
Chas. and Ver.] 
Agnes, A brief ; it may explain. I'll away read 
its articles. [Exit. 

ACT IV. 

Scene I. 

Enter oppositely, riding, Mary Carroll, two 
attendants, and Royal Carroll, riding faster. 

Mary, Brother ! Brother ! Thou dost drink the 
eye of life ; 
Cool in joy heart's extended tongues of longing ! 
Appease my fears, come near that I may feel 
And know 'tis thee ! 

Roy. I enjoy thy fuss and flush. 

Mary. Brother, I've sought thee wide, places 
ceasing, 
Hope ceasing. Fears like ivy twined my desperate 

soul. 
Me feared thy mortal anger and thou wert bled 
I' some challenge. 

Roy. Not a drop but the eye could count. 

Mary. Some evil keeps thee civil. Tell. 
What prompt thy travels in this queachy thicket met? 
Roy. On a run, I jumped the gully the rest go 

round. 
Mary. On hunt went and held thee dead in 
accident. 
Who follow thee ? 



72 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

Roy. A Charles Almont, adverting, 

The nonpareil of fellows ; a — 

Mary. Escape him. 

Roy. Surely seems — 

Mary. Hist, 'tis a way the serpent has. 

Ride in band of robbers. 
ist Rob. Careful of her lady ! 
2nd Rob. Quench your points in men ! 

Jrd Rob. Look, my mute orator. 
4th Rob. This, will I punch his jugular? 

Roy. Give me my arm free I'll take any three ! 
Mary. Buzzards on what pounce? 
ist Rob. Animals and valu'bles. 

Enter Garrett. 

Gar. Leave man his saddle mine he dies ! 

Part ! Carroll ! Carroll ! In thy soul cool thy sword ! 

Men of their things thou shalt not. All, forward ! 

[Exeunt band. 

Woman I remember thee. Far, down, 

[ To Mary Carroll. 

Deep in a hole I buried him. 

Mary. Sir, stay. 

\_Exit Gar. 
Royal, dost know him? 

Roy. As the humming-bird by its hum. 

But he says he knoweth thee ? 

Mary. I fed him once. 

They do near. Return with me. 

Roy. At even-tide I'm after. 

[Exeunt Mary and attendants. 

Enter riding, Charles, Marion and Verness. 

Enter oppositely Agnes, garbed a gypsy on an ass. 



ACT IV. SCENE I. 73 

Agnes singing. 

With the stars I'm in conference ; 
With wise maids Pm in preference; 
My jackass bears a burden. 

Once the huswife of the busy sky, 
Baked thy future in wide fortune' *s fie ; 
Long fore Nimrod robbed the race. 

Mar. Come, good gypsy, ope the moldy coffer of 

decrees. 
Agnes. Obolus squeezed or coin round the key. 
True to relate e'en the gods wait on a fee. 

Chas. Here are coins a few, but abuse nor spot 
The lily of her intellect. Ye shameless hags 
Build in the blood the embers of obscenity ; 
In concentration scandalizing turrets 
Peaceful purity. Sibyl, let thy ages wag. 
Agnes : 

Sir, thy money's not enough. [To Chas. 

Ho, there's blood upon thy cuff ! 
Who thy friend in deed ? an axe ? 

[Chas. gives more. 
Stir his hell man's heart am wax. 

Ichor, spirit, indurate, [To Mar. 

Wench and cark is cackling fate, 
Too, oft fright'ning into fits, 
This puts all tales in eclipse. 

Mar. Methinks thou art sad and inexact. 

Agnes. I diffuse the truth ; I have read the pa- 
pers. 
Thou art sold unhallowed slave to unholy love. 
Thy grave is ope, black hands do lower thee 



74 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

To death alive beyond all death, beyond all misery. 
Turn, behold the hole unto whom sold. 

[Points to Ver. 
Turn here to him for cash exchanged thee. 

\_Points at Chas. 
To him for of this crew but he is true. Thus Dan- 
ger \_Points to Roy. 
Hath arranged if wilt not be forewarned. [Exit. 
Roy. I do believe. 

Mar. Most puerile of thee thus believe ! 

Roy. My swelling heart disturbed despite. 
Dost love me yet ? No reconsideration in regret ? 
Mar. An intensity scarce knows my being's 

keeping. 
Roy. Did I believe I'd have their honorless 
hearts. 
Come, for in my mother's tomb I am menial 
Fury. My will is lightning, my sword is sinning. 

Mar. In blossom's shower oft whole flowers fall. 
Be not in the way of wind lest with thy words 
Misfortune fall. To covert love, lest swept by pas- 
sion. 
Come, come ; do not insist now resist. 

[Exeunt Mar. and Roy. 
Chas. Who do deny that wrongs do brood abroad 
At night when the invisible takes arms in daylight. 
This wizened witch accursed (if she were wizened) 
No random dam, but as it were incarnate of designs. 
We pursue unlucky — I say we slump in plans. 
Ver. Give back my payments, tear — 
Chas. You shall own her yet ! 

Stupidity be tickled, furbish that too solemn eye. 



ACT IV. SCENE II. 75 

More risk is repent to it; we must be friends again. 
We must be friends again till Carroll's neck is cut. 

[Exeunt. 

Scene II. Cabin in the mountains about AU 
mont manor. Lieutenant and band of robbers. 

1st Rob. But unhitch our ignorance from the race. 

Lieut. The race ! The race? Call it not by that 
For a name as such is less the name 
So much and hungry as to be thief of it ; 
A "race" a booted robber of this masterpiece : 
But demonstrate how easy to be monstrous. 
Why scabby dogs may race, turn bite a flea 
Bedding in their stringy tails and that 
Is named a race. But this grand thing 
In grandeur's middle made all other sports 
As seeming distant vices. Elysium's gaydom ; 
And the women married to all brightsomeness 
Seemed crowded tulips in this glorious patch 
Of happiness ; nodding to the winds 
Of their nervous, anxious ecstasy. But the race ! 
Lank and lean they were made to stretch. 
Nimble hounds in ebullient eagerness 
They looked colossal dogs of purpose. 
They bunched above the line all trained 
And temper'd to the time. They plunge 
And make false starts and come back again. 
They're off ! The dust ! the rush ! to hear their iron 

march ! 
Their jockeys crouching low cowards 
To every inch of wind ; and arms encircling 
Their steeled steeds as if fondling speed 



76 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

From in their throats. The ground's ablaze ! 
They go, they're gone ! and furious speed 
Ensconced between their legs prompts them on. 
Favorite's in the rear and seems but there to see it ; 
Alpha third, Princess is nowhere. 
Quarter : Favorite fourth, Princess is third ; 
Alpha back. They no longer run, they sail ! 
Like jugglers' changes and transposition is complete. 
Half : Favorite has a nose and Princess third ; 
Money horse takes a drink and Alpha's fifth. 
They come ! they come ! like a whirlwind mad ! 
Favorite has a length, Princess comes from place ; 
Alpha lifts and flies to with Princess even. 
They're head and head and neck at twenty yards ; 
The same at ten. Alpha stumbles; few flaps 
Of fish out of fathoms he is none. 
What think you then ? 

ist Rob. Tell. 

Lieut. False-hearted Favorite — 

Quit ! and Princess won the race. 

2nd Rob. Long race. 

Hal. Why we were there and saw ev'ry ace of 

race. 

Enter Garrett. 

Lieut. But, I have not ta'en the true accounts of 
ye absentees. 
Tell me where wert thou swart Harry ? 

Hal. Ah me. 

To church, despite the proverb prayed for riches. 
Behold a packet product of a prayer. [Holds forth. 
For whiles he served up the Prodigal Son, 
On delinquent I in my attentive corner 



ACT IV. SCENE II. 77 

Aimed his eye, I wept, and went with him. 
Where he did keep it worked on leathers. 

Gar. Ye pigs ! Ah, had I but parent to return ! 

[Aside. 

Lieut. And what did your big arm do ? 

3rd Rob. Dent a head. 

Lieut. Was it a tonsured roundel ? 

3rd Rob. What's that? 

Lieut. Well where wert thou dear Hal? 

Hal. I met a maid in cambric. But not a poet. 
The space at your disposal, supply the line. 

Gar. Oh, ye slimy monsters, ye villains filth. 

[Aside. 

Lieut. You? 

4th Rob. Don't know. 

Lieut. How not? 

4th Rob. I was drunk. 

Lieut. What was condition of your leave? 

4th Rob. Soberiety. 

Lieut. Where is your horse ? 

4th Rob. Gone, methinks he's lost. 

Gar. Met a rustic with forked stick driving 
The angles in a cow ; and more in detail, 
Induced and duped and diced thee 
Out of horse. Hang him — no ; forgive him. 

Lieut. Pardon is given thee to beware the 
crime. 

Hal. What does Davy grub ? 

[Referring- to Davy without. 

2nd Rob. I've discovered Croesus. 

Hal. Where ? 

2nd Rob. Lousy in a hut on the river front, 



78 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

A hungry guard of narration blood-hounds. 

5th Rob. Which reminds me five — no, 'tis more, 

'tis six — 
2nd Rob. Crack that craven's bump of mem- 
brance. 
Thou hoary, gory lecher speak I'll stab ! 
He's still now but like a blister he'll refill. 
Enter Davy bearing a Jlagon. 

Hal. Davy, what hast thou there ? 

Davy. A sum of — 

Hal. What? 

Davy. Pray let me see your tongue. 

Hal. Why? 

Davy. Methinks you show symptoms curious. 

Hal. What's it? 

Davy. Dew and roots and mixture midnight, 
Words and signs ; hops of kangaroo and sparrow. 
Who unduly drinks these elements in enmity, 
This fighting flagon so clear and innocent 
Shall sup but water delicious, different, 
Until — well, he'll split himself in madness. 

2nd Rob. Ye fools, 'tis jabber, gabble, gad for- 
ever. 
Let him rot in squalor, we do not need 
His currency. Thieves? Old women lack a hump. 

Lieut. Where away lies this gentleman of your 
impatience ? 

3rd Rob. To the twenty-mile-bend and now to 
start. 

Lieut. Who do object? Assenting all. And 
will you? [_To 3rd Rob. 

3rd Rob. What—? 



ACT IV. SCENE II. 79 

Lieut. Captain, 'tis agreed that we sur- 

prise — 
Gar % Thou art delegated and to orders held. 

[Exeunt Lieutenant and band. 
In this hiatus of society, on broad plains 
Of principle, aye, since the institution 
Of things first 'tis ceaseless after pomp and vagaries. 
From babes to ailments' stagnant years ; 
From squalling times in the cradle 
Till come the death rattles in his throat ; 
From souls to God-seeking free ; 
Fighting in the rigid rules economy, 
Fighting, struggling, swimming with ambition's 

burden 
And always is the flag that far. 
Everywhere the life embroiled in strife, 
Save less boldly to the vantage would creep 
Into position ; less a few in livery of piety 
Playing austerity unto this after death. 
I' the world to be exalted, reign a little ; i' then 
To be the covet ; wasting in the buzz of assassins. 
Or zealot with his streaked forms fanatical 
Of urged adoption, whose only holy wish 
To unmoor the world and steer it into bliss. 
Then these thieves, these murderers, to whom 
Is peace oppressiveness and the knife in one 
Anxiety the next — on blood achievements hearted. 
Or one in study would better gauge 
His ignorance till little learning lead him wise. 
Or silent genius plugging to read his name in fame. 
Again, some in appliance crucifying plot disasters, 
Vampires on misfortune with the golden sucker 



80 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

Of success. And some — and some — one — 

Be short with it. Thou art the bull-dog leashed 

Dear Edward straining to no definite end. — 

Agnes 'tis — that name again ! and scribbled 

When 'tis meant mine own ; ending each soliloquy, 

Pronounced upon my lips or hushed 

Within my heart. Love her ? Love her ? Love thee ? 

'Tis thunder in my bosom reverberating 

Terrible, and the curse of it flashing 

In the rolling, rumbling crags of consciousness, 

No contrition is redemption, or laurel has power. 

Ha, this fool's brew. I'll quaff his loquacity. 

\_D rinks from the flagon. 

Enter Agnes. 
Agnes — [_Tke drink ajfects. 

Agnes. Love thou grin'st and chatter'st so 
To scare me. 

Gar. False — false — false statement — very false. 
Agnes. Edward ! 

Gar. Do not interrupt. Thy feet are 

dirty — 
Real estate. Why travel with those lands? 
Agnes. He — 

Gar. I too am scorched in rush of fumes. 

Throw him in — a needle or a furnace — my mem'ry's 

gone. 
Ask not a pedant in a pool the qualities of leeches. 
Pooh ! 'tis too paltry decorate our home. 

Agnes. Edward, Edward Garrett, know thou not 

me? 
Gar. Thou art Agnes. 
Agnes. He's mad. O God o' mercy ! 



ACT IV. SCENE II. 8 1 

Gar. Say, thy nose is one o' the principal parts 
o' thy face. — 
Ho 'tis hell ; those great bugs blasphemies. 
Whe ! a virgin — floats along — a song of vows. 
I'll wait. One hand's canary, other hand's a snake. 
Escape! Escape! Where's escape? She's thousand 
snakes ! \_Retreats. 

Agnes. He sweats and beckons me. Sir, sir, I 
speak — 
Madness measure me, in his senses bury me ! 

Gar. Who opes my heart? 'Twas said! I 
heard't ! 
Crow, chirp thou slush-logged, blatant coward, 
I'll carve, I'll scald, I'll chew, I'll spawl ! — 

Agnes. Garrett thou art insane. I mean wise ! 
Gar. I say a wasp ! I'll pull in two and pike 
Thy suffering halves! Drigons ! cats! chimeras! 
Help ! Help ! My men ! beat back that winged one ! 
See the eyes in that tail-furious flame. 
Agnes. 'Tis I is near. 

Gar. Ah, would corner me to conquer me. 

Fiend about or I will tip in deeper pit. 
Thou seek'st to choke and clutch me in thy fist. 
Return, return, thou hideous burning manner. 
Cunning, creeping, dummy I am thy death. 

Agnes. Garrett thou mangl'st me ! thou strang- 
l'st me ! [ Wrestles Agnes. 

Gar. Beast, come — die — gum arabic creature, 
there ! 

[ Wrestles Agnes without and falls pros- 
trate after. 



82 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

Scene III. A trysting-place in the wood. 

Charles Almont. 

Chas. In the silence of a father keeps a crime ; 
The crime, O father, of thy poisoning by me. 
And who should smell his belly suspecting spill 
Him in analysis proscribes my necessary 
Neck. He must be re-interred for I am 
Fears of late ; and deeper hid his supper dish. 
True his thread was cut well through ; 
Yet however slight 'tis appraised a life, 
And has needs the devil of a beaver 
Needs I sentence on my sense of guilt. 
A brother's wrong popping in these open moments ; 
A blabbing drunkard secure in sober bosom ; 
Like a poor relation, circumstance of poorer station 
Appears to grig the taspe slave of little luck, — 
Second marriage's penalty for divorcing memory : 
The wrong, O brother, of thy banishment by me. 
And in its living tail see mother caught ; 
Holy, sweet and tender death and pining, — 
" John," her last long sigh minutes after death. 
And now Royal Carroll down to die ; 
Within these minutes few noble youth 
To fall from the sneaking thrust of fell Verness. 
I like it not. O Verness, that thou hadst not bought ! 
And if thou stab'st him i' the back or stick him 
Turned away, is not that murder of most foul, 
Malignant kind? Is he not murd'rer after manner? 
And if first thrust do fail and I must finish him, 
Wherein one whit more excellent or less am I ? 
We kill her lover to marry her to murderer. 



ACT IV. SCENE III. 83 

O Verness, thou foul fiend, for thy money back 
Thou sayest thou wilt cancel of the contract. 
Thou shalt never handle of that money more. 
Here comes now the heathen to be my brother-in-law. 

Enter Verness. 
Health, peace and spirits plenty. Art well? 

Ver. Not well, not well. I'm weighted with 
unrest. 

Chas. Health in the dumps and spirit sulks : 
'Tis monotony, monotony ; but felled this calf ; — 

Ver. No — 

Chas. The toads shall emulate the songsters 

Crowding now deserted sprigs of nature. 

Ver. I will not do it. Last night I dreamt — 

Chas. What didst thou dream? They say, fancy 
for a fool, 
Snares are set for wise men. Go on. 

Ver. Appeared the ravishing head of an angel. 
Nearer, nearer, came its orbs of wisdom 
Like quiet flames of grace, tiny lakes 
Immortal ; round and wondrous, blue, ineffable. 
Its countenance was blessed mildness, 
Innocent, intellectual, transcendent. 
Faintly in the distance bells and bugles, vanished. 
Then methought thrust in a demon 
Dight in dirt, deceit and savage ignorance. 
Mouthing at a crown 'twould hand a sword ; 
Detestable sight I woke conjuring it to go. 

Chas. Say this : Superstition — look. Mind me. 
Superstition thou heavy cabled gnat, scat ! 

Ver. I say like Constantine I see a sign. 

Chas. Disaster sent thee drawing. Ha, ha, ha. 



84 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

Hast yet read the pimples in the face ? 

The lightest fly is held by music ; 

But thou fly lighter held by dream. 

'Tis naught but thy fears and flesh conspired 

To fright thee. It oft occurs in excitement's sleep 

Of cowards. 

Ver. I want my money back. 

Ckas. Some nights ago thou hadst a sweaty smell ; 
Thy minatory air like doom arranged to rain ; * 
Threats in rhythm till his disease was hopeless ; 
Lifeless did he seem me in the glimpses 
Of thy performing implement. Fie ! Fie ! 
Dire in desire wilt be dread in opportunity? 

Ver. My dream is vivid ; 'tis death to disobey. 

Ckas. Thou art an imbecile. 

Ver. Nor thy pigmy judgment, 

Nor my might of muscle, but this sweet angel 
Of my sleep. 

Ckas. Are not these eggs, this nest all thine? 

Ver. And if I refuse to sit what bus'ness thine ? 

Ckas. See her, behold her, look at her again ; 
With her fair all fair the funny part comparison. 
Her eyes like stars defiance inviting love's 
Deciphering ; those lips in rapture's riot ; 
Whose talk is music, — honey in liquid vessels ; 
Each thought in crimson ribbons, lilies dressing. 
O fan thy fires ! youth its treasures thine ! 
A foot and gait like the fox's pretty trail, — 
He comes. A little I'd have had his angel, [Aside. 
Rout his dream. — He comes thine solicited. 

[ To Ver. Ver. going'. 
Flight in sight? But stay— I say— I'll do't. 



ACT IV. SCENE III. 85 

Enter Royal Carroll. 

Roy. I received thy message inviting me attend 
thee here. 
What may thy business be of me ? 

Chas. Strike. \_Aside to Ver. 

Roy. I say your note bidding be here at this hour. 

Chas. Strike, he cannot parry. [Aside to Ver. 

Ver. I am gone. [Aside. Going. 

Chas. Stay. [ Aside. 

Roy. What may thy business be of me ? 

Chas. Let me think. I know I sent for thee. 
Yea, by this sky, by that bird adream on high, — 
What manner bird bethink you that ? ha ? 
Sea birds inland forecast a storm. 

[Stabs him; Car. staggers, falls. 
Not yet; he breathes. Verness here dispatch him. 
Aha, would have me guilty only? I say, strike ! 
What, afraid of the foulness of his matter 
The serpent of his soul already flown ? 

Ver. He is not dead, his eyes doth roll. 

Chas. Hold your sword thus ; dip it, dig it, do it. 

Ver. I do fear ; he stares at me, he knows me. 

Roy. Too slow by one. Sister, Marion, I die. 
[On his back hits Ver. ; Ver. falls and both 
die. Exit Chas. 

Enter Mary Carroll, scrutinizes both and 
brother and sinks there. 

Drive in several robbers led by Garrett. 

1st Rob. Ho ! See ! see ! dead three. 
Gar. 'Tis a strange case. 

I know them all ! 



86 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

2nd Rob. What? 

Gar. I know them not. 

1st Rob. She hath no wound. 

Gar. This methinks to be her brother. 

[Addressing Roy. 

3rd Rob. His hurt is here. [Addressing Ver. 

Gar. Methought he'd die of fear. 

Take them up and lay 'gainst yonder knoll. 
Take the bodies up. I must bring into town. 

[Exeunt with the bodies. 

Scene IV. Apartment in a Lodging. Marion 

and Hostess. 

Host. I crave my rent. 

Mar. There's a pearl upon thy nose. 

Host. I need it now. 

Mar. It broke upon the floor. 

Host. I am alone. 

Mar. All short, all sense, no variation ; 

The commatic compositions of a boy in school. 
Thou art as thin as a grave-yard spirit ; 
Thy soup as thin, as thin as sin. 
Thy skin's so tight the wrinkles stint ; 
Thy soul's so tense thy pitch is strange. 
Be advised thou'll eat three meals 
Or more a day ; furnish up thy face 
And move thy nose out of the way. [Sings. 

Til don my best, 

Let beggars wear the rest, 

And spend the night in waking. 

Signorina, me dies to-night. 



ACT IV. SCENE V. 87 

Host. Dear my lady — 

Mar. There, feed it. I say to-night I die. 

[ Throws rent money at her. 
Host. Good girl what mean'st thou? Nothing 

rash ? 
Mar. Good ? said't ? Paid I to lie ? As foul a 
mess 
As e'er purity put foot in. 

Host. A little daft. [Aside. 

Mar. Gums wet and sliding tongue be gone. 

\_Exit Hostess. 
Bawdry's long slave O my soul delivered. 
Death, doth shudder? Drink O my courage, drink. 

\_D rinks. 
Pit dress in red ; red' 's for frolic, 
Colors dun fore the justice. 

Come this mirror ; this dam I'll bet skimmed thy 
back. — [ Takes mirror from the wall. 

Lost in this besottedness, ah, not a trace ; 
Beauty's demureness, sterile, compunctionless ; 
Once simple smiles, hard and knowy. 

\_Retires and exit. 

Scene V. An Inn; seated John Almont, Gen- 
tlemen, and others. 
Enter Marion to another table. 
At John Almonfs Table. 
1st Gent. I'm a boated cod. 
2nd Gent. I'm dog on a desert. 

1st Gent. Hie ! thou flabby darling, shaking love ! 
More ale. [ To Hostess. Notices tears in John 

ALMONT'sy<ZC£. 



88 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

What, are those tears, sneeze or straining? Art cry- 
ing ? 

John. Some dust. 

2nd Gent. I'm sure some sadder particle. 

3rd Gent. Is silent driving grief in construction 
here ? 
Turn him out, burn him — no, drown him out. 

[Hostess returns. 

John. Who is she takes her seat? 

2nd Gent. Fair bawd frequent here. 

3rd Gent. Gentle bred and reckless her curse, so 
often is, 
Seems again charms' graciousness. 

1st Gent. 'Tis so. 

John. My sister much ; but then a bud in dews 
These years she there rivals her in mind. 
A child in faith full and infinite grace, 
Chimes recollections thus explain this ecstasy 
Of tears. 

3rd Gent. Let's now carouse to her long life. 

At Marion's Table. 
Mar. I'll have wine and some one tell a lie. 
Commence with " Iceland" and " once surround 
By water." Am I now? My wine, my wine. 
My dinars drained and ta'en my funeral fee ; 
Order fop, and I'll be thy Bacchante. 

[Fop orders. 

At John Almonf s Table. 

2nd. Gent. Wink soon or thine eyes '11 never 

lock. 
John, So strangely same, similar, I can but look. 



ACT IV. SCENE V. 89 

At Marion's Table. 
Mar. Tell't without the date and hacking 
proem ; 
An eclogue on the lea, something tucked 
F the bosom of domesticity ; for know ye not 
I go home to-night? 

At John Almont' s Table. 
John. Her face, why don't she turn ! 

At Marion' s Table. 
Mar. Make imagination manufacture ; respire, 
bestir 
The capering waves of wit, or else think 
I must and that I dare not. 

At John Almont' s Table. 
John. Manner's mimic. 

At Marion' 's Table. 
Mar. Who cannot lie a little is derelict indeed. 
Well, my honored hearers, once I had a lover. 
Woe walked in with a knife — 

Fop. 'Tis old, thy lover died. 

Mar. Died? [ Throws wine in Fop's face and 
grabs his.~] 

Died? [Throws that in Yov'sface 
and grabs another' s.~\ 

Ach ! thou scab unfit 
To crown his sore, — \_Hour sounds. 

At John' s Table. 
John. See her anger, commotion there. 

At Marion' s Table. 
Mar. The hour — the hour — the hour. Drink, 
girl, drink. [Puts foi son into wine; drinks. 



90 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

I had intended to tell thee how he died. [Falls. 

At John* s Table. 
John. Drops. They take her out. I must a 
squint. 
[Exeunt some with body, curious all follow . 

Scene VI. Room in Almonfs. Charles Al- 

mont. 

Chas. Ah life fought a shadow to nothingness 
control. 
A craped and weeping grief a sister once, 
Love crazy ran away to ways that's vile. 
The slaughter sly of her lover manly, 
In draining flow dark rivulets of woe. 
Verness, and like the louse meanness in his death, 
Through me he meets it, too salient in remorse. 
A father poisoned, a brother banished, a mother — 
Destruction nip him ! pluck him where he comes ! 

Enter John Almont. 
The longer is unbroken the dearer interruption ! 
Welcome ship synonym of my sad, watching soul. 
John. Rank falsity I'll be abrupt with thee of 
ken. 
I have met our sister Marion — met and buried her. 
My opening question to a series is ; 
Didst sell to wedlock — our sister sell 
To harlotry perforce ? I say to Verness 
Betrothed thou knew to Carroll ? 

Chas. I'll defend mine honor. 

'Gainst my brother. [Draws. 

John. Bed-bug big in innocence 

Thou'll see I've chocked the crannies can contain. 



ACT IV. SCENE VI. 9 1 

Enter Agnes. 

Come woman please : Did he his sister sell ? 

Agnes, I am in proof of the transaction. 
This paper in the date thereon took I from Verness 

[ Unfolds the sale. 
As in the garden they retired about it. 
'Tis the sale of Marion to Verness. 

John. I have read. 

Chas. Mistress Mystery more riddles reap. 

[Stabs Agnes. 
John. Thou must die. 

Chas. I'll steve thy hold with steel. 

[Fight and exeunt fighting. 

Enter Garrett. 

Gar. Agnes, Agnes, behold Humility bending 
low; 
Groveling for forgiveness Edward like a cur. 
Dear, let the art of my intensity envelop me 
In thy expansive part. Close not the gate — 

Agnes. Hold up thy sin for here my heart's blood 

runs. 
Gar. A wound ! a cut ! a lance aslant ! 
Agnes. Vindictive deep. 

Gar. Dost die? Didst suicide? Love wast 
murder ? 

Re-enter John. 

Agnes. 'Tis he did basely hit. 
John. No, he's dead did basely do it. 

Gar. Thy sword is ruddy ! On a spit in hell 
to-night. \_Strikes, John falls and dies. 

Agnes. Support me. Ed I am blind in death. 



92 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

Gar. Rouse reptile and for help ! Help ! oho ! 
help! 

Agnes. Who is 't did kill? 

Gar. John — 

Agnes. Mistake. 'Twas Charles did stab. 

Gar. Shall love empty in my arms? Help! 
Help ! 

Agnes. Kiss me. 

Gar. O dear, so cold. \_Kisses her. 

Agnes. 'Tis sweetness fills my veins. 

Read ; and I loved thee till my last breath. 

\_Holds a paper and dies. 

Gar. O love, O love, my love, my love art 
gone ! 
How royally sits highness on that face ; 
So queenly poised serene on womanhood. 
Thy hand my lady? No? No? Rigid, rigid. 
The ring betrothal ! Ha! I say, rememb'rest thou 

me 
Fuming, fishing for 't? Like ichneumon's 
Mighty fixity feasting on thy fasting, 
Sunning in inconstancy what torments lived with thee. 
This other. A vision ! or my jewel I did give — 
Rogue discovered ! That smirk discloses thee. 
Thou art that strange character i' the wilderness, 
That strange character these years hath haunted me ; 
Did save my life this ring at parting token ; 
And did charge me with the woman of my wrongs. 
Art thou he, so near? — This message clutched. 
With a hate as fierce — 'Tis not ! I wrote it not ! 
Agnes forgive — and if I kneel she'll fall on me. 
Dead? In that noiseless surg of no return? 



ACT IV. SCENE VII. 93 

Adown the tide to fathoms dark yond all life ? 
Why thy jaw droppeth ? those eyes thus opeth ? 
Dost strive to see ? hath breath ? a secret yet ? 
Dead? I'll conjure heaven and make a span 
With hell ! I'll kindle thee, tear thee ope and 

breathe 
In thee ! Up. Come my pleasant labor. 
Die? Ha, ha. Hear my melancholy laugh. 

\_Exit with the body. 

Enter Servant. 

Ser. Just as I said ; a fight. Two brothers too. 
John returned and last of the fam'ly dead. 

Enter several, some with dead body #/* Charles. 

Gawks, art catching flakes ? Have ye not heads ? 
Place together in the room. I go report. 

[_Exit and exeunt with bodies. 

Scene VII. Hut in the wood. Garrett on a 

fallet. 

Gar. The short reward of my long watch to 
bury thee. 
With a single thrust and thou no friend, Agnes, 
But in agony's circuity kept I my darling — 

Enter Friar. 

Intruding priest, be gone ! 

Fri. Wherefore dear friend, offend me? 

Gar. Go, or by — 

Fri. Be not in wrath for lo thy time's at hand. 

Gar. What is thy bus'ness here ? 

Fri. To succor and to save 



94 AREAL'S IMAGINATION. 

The cursing, the eouchless and the crossless. 

Gar. Their heart's abomination, murder here for 
buttons. 
Gone to fetch me medicine soon return 
Two murd'rous friends of mine. Thou art best be 
gone. 
Fri. Man's message is defiance when he com- 
mit' st no sin. 
Man thou art more than multitude of worlds ; 
The keystone being — 

Gar. Go with what you know. 

'Tis imagery, 'tis imagery. 'Tis nice traits bite 
The cursory, men ruminate the nether. 

Fri. Time may incrust a truth but can not eat 
Thy youth. Look back — 

Gar. Youth? Birth abandoned, forlorn at 

six ; 
A robber, bloody-fist till now my head is silv'ry. 
Fri. And wise in the present past's only repara- 
tion. 
Sir, thou art he who in my boyhood — 

Gar. Yes, left in the village. Come close thou 
I am dying. [Shuts the door. 

Enter Several. 

ist Fri. Said he, Some are recusant to round 
theory 
Of the earth; and for aught I know 
' Tis our eyes are round ; but this I see. 
I asked if 'twas not ale painted in the vacuum. 
Said he. I see ; and like a stricken widow weft. 
A ghost — a ghost — a ghost ; Til ne' er forget her. 



ACT IV. SCENE VII. 95 

Garrett, Garrett, Garrett, six times moaned 
the spook, 

I am Agnes, Agnes, Agnes, teary kept repeat- 
ing I 

Hung o' er an open grave of surging tears. 

About here methinks, and found the fellow there. 

Appears Friar. 

Fri. Flashed out but now. Providence pre- 
served him. 
Direct him, we'll prepare in yon clump of chinca- 
pins. \_Exeunt with the body. 



JUN 25 1900 



